The Midterm Curse: Why Presidents Always Lose—And How We Fight It in 2026

Since 1934, the president's party has lost House seats in 21 out of 23 midterm elections. That's a 91% failure rate. The average loss? Twenty-eight House seats.

Republicans currently hold the House by just three seats. If history repeats itself, we're about to get crushed in the 2026 midterm elections.

But John O'Connor isn't accepting defeat. In this episode of O'Connor's Right Stand, he breaks down the brutal mathematics of midterm elections, explains exactly why the "midterm curse" is so consistent, and reveals the only two times in modern history it didn't happen—and what we can learn from those exceptions.

More importantly, he lays out a comprehensive 6-point battle plan for how conservatives can minimize losses and keep the House majority.

You'll discover:
- The five reasons why presidents always lose midterms (thermostatic effect, coalition problem, enthusiasm gap, accountability factor, and death by disappointments)
- Why Trump's 2024 coalition won't show up in 2026—and what to do about it
- The only two exceptions: 1998 (Clinton gained 5 seats) and 2002 (Bush gained 8 seats)
- Six concrete strategies to minimize damage and hold the line
- Why losing just 10 seats instead of 28 would be a massive victory
- How to turn a referendum on Trump into a choice between conservatism and socialism

The next twelve months will determine whether Trump's agenda survives or dies. This isn't about hope—it's about strategy, execution, and understanding political gravity.

Deep-dive conservative political analysis from software programmer and truth-teller John O'Connor. No spin. No corporate polish. Just facts, strategy, and unapologetically American commentary.

Episode Resources:
- Full transcript available at OConnorsRightStand.com
- Follow on X: @OConnorPodcasts
- Subscribe: O'Connor's Right Stand (Tuesday/Thursday) + O'Connor's Quick Strike (Mon/Wed/Fri)