How the Supreme Court shaped the midterm elections

The Supreme Court may not be on the ballot next week, but its rulings over the past year have shaped the midterm elections in significant ways, from determining the maps used for congressional elections to how campaign cash may be used.

Republicans are aiming to stave off losses to Democrats, who are favored to flip the House and the Senate, along with projected losses in other statewide races across the country. The high court’s October 2025 term, which ended on June 30, included three major rulings that affected the midterm elections, while the Supreme Court’s emergency docket featured several additional interim rulings that shaped how both campaigns and elections were conducted this cycle.