ArcaMax

The midterms are finally upon us, and it’s hard to find words to express how important they are or how much is at stake.

Of course, we say something similar every two or four years: “This is the most important election ever!” But this year, that has an authentic ring to it.

There are, to begin with, fundamental policy differences on the line. Indeed, whether he’s on the ballot or not, the midterms are a referendum on the Orange Man. Do we approve of the pain and suffering he’s delivered in the last two years? Higher prices for gas, groceries, and housing? A pointless, forever war against Iran? Making deals with Vladimir Putin? Cutting all funding for solar power, wind power, and electric cars? Tearing down the East Wing of the White House? Shutting down the Kennedy Center? Sending the military into American cities? Rounding up, breaking up families, and deporting millions of hard-working, tax-paying people who’ve committed no crime?

On another front: Do we approve of any president, Republican or Democrat, who exploits the office of the presidency to enrich himself and his family? Personally making thousands of stock trades himself every month? Hawking presidential Bibles, sneakers, hats, commemorative coins, watches, cryptocurrency? Lining his pockets with $2.2 billion in 2025 alone? And practicing “pay to play” by rewarding big donors with government contracts or presidential pardons?

Those are all important issues, sufficient for any election and in themselves enough to drive us to the polls. But, I believe, the 2026 midterms are so critical because there’s so much more than that at stake. It’s not just policy differences on the ballot on November 3, it’s the question of who we are as Americans.

In essence, over and above politics, we are being asked to vote on whether everything we learned growing up still counts. Republican, Democrat or Independent, liberal or conservative, the question we face is: Are the values our parents taught us, the values we thought all Americans believed in, still valid? Values like…

Telling the Truth. Whether the story’s true or not, there’s no mistaking the message of little George Washington and the cherry tree: It’s wrong to tell a lie. That’s what our parents taught us. That’s what we teach our kids. Yet, according to the Washington Post, Trump told 30,573 lies in his first term. So on November 3 we get to vote on whether it’s OK for a president of the United States to lie every time he moves his lips? Yes or No?

Treating people with r espect, even those you disagree with. In a word, it’s decency – to co-workers, neighbors, or family. Recognizing that we’re not always going to agree on everything, but we’re all God’s children and worthy of respect. Does that still count? Or, like Donald Trump, is it now OK to belittle, insult and personally attack anybody who disagrees with you – or use the Justice Department to try to throw your political opponents in prison? Yes or No?

Obeying the law. We are a nation of laws, not men and women, we were taught. Where everybody lived under and followed the same rules. Nobody, not even the president of the United States was above the law. Is that still the case? Or do we now accept a man who routinely defies the law and claims that, as president, he has the power to do anything he wants, even kill a man, and get away with it. Yes or No?

Living a moral life. Nobody’s perfect, but we all learned that there’s a big difference between right and wrong. It’s wrong to cheat on your wife. It’s wrong to sexually assault women. It’s wrong to grab women by their private parts. It’s wrong to pay a porn star not to talk about a one-night fling. Are we now willing to hold up such an immoral man as a role model for our children? Yes or No?

Loving your country. Forget our differences. Bottom line, we’re all Americans. We love this country. We’d do anything to protect it. We’d take on any enemy, foreign or domestic, who tried to undermine it. So, do we care when a president sends an armed mob to attack the U.S. Capitol and attempt to overturn the government? Yes or No?

Those are the values on the line on November 3: Truth. Justice. Fairness. Decency. Democracy. America.

What’s at stake in the midterms? Everything we believe in. Or used to.

(Bill Press is host of The BillPressPod, and author of 10 books, including: “From the Left: My Life in the Crossfire.” His email address is: bill@billpress.com. Readers may also follow him on Twitter @billpresspod and on BlueSky @BillPress.bsky.social.)

©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.