Washington’s hottest new political show was at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings on Sunday for a discussion of the historic 2026 midterm elections and an interview with one of America’s most sought-after political analysts and pollsters.
Susan Davis, contributor at 535 News, and Brody Mullins, editor-in-chief of 535 News and former investigative reporter for The Wall Street Journal were on stage at the Federal Legislative and Political Forum, along with David Wasserman, senior editor and election analyst at The Cook Political Report.
Mullins and Davis anchor 535 News live from the U.S. Capitol complex when the House is in session. The pair recently interviewed NAR Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn during House consideration of major bipartisan housing legislation.
Political Forces at Work
Opening Sunday’s session, Mullins and Davis explored the political forces shaping Washington ahead of a consequential election cycle. They touched on campaign finance, congressional priorities and what the evolving political landscape could mean for housing policy.
“We're entering a period of time where the amount of political uncertainty in Washington will be at an all-time high,” Mullins said.
The discussion touched on major legislative issues, including the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, before turning to broader questions about the November midterm elections. Wasserman joined the conversation to examine the political challenges facing lawmakers as housing affordability, economic uncertainty and tax policy continue to dominate debates in Washington.
Wasserman suggested the upcoming election could become another wave election, estimating that Democrats currently have a “35% to 40% chance of winning the Senate and about a 70% chance of winning the House.”
At the same time, he said only 18 House seats are currently considered toss-ups, meaning any wave election would likely be smaller than those seen in previous cycles.
The panel also discussed redistricting and its impact on representation. Wasserman noted that momentum for redistricting reform has waned since the 2020 Census.
“Prior to the 2020 Census, we did see momentum for redistricting reform efforts, but now we are seeing it move in the opposite direction,” Wasserman said.
“That leads to a Congress that does not reflect the country, and that seems like a problem,” Davis added.
Wasserman estimated that Republicans currently hold an advantage of roughly six seats in the ongoing redistricting battles, while cautioning that some newly drawn districts may not perform as expected.
REALTORS®’ Role in Washington
The Federal Legislative and Political Forum is a cornerstone event of the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, which bring together thousands of NAR members, lawmakers and industry leaders to discuss policy solutions and advocate for issues affecting real estate markets nationwide. The annual gathering culminates in Capitol Hill meetings where REALTORS® share firsthand perspectives on homeownership, property rights and a healthy real estate economy.
“Effective advocacy begins with understanding the political environment,” McGahn said. “By hearing directly from some of the nation’s leading political observers, REALTORS® gained valuable context as they prepared to carry the industry’s priorities to lawmakers and continue advancing policies that support housing opportunity and homeownership.”
This week’s meetings with members of Congress are an important part of an advocacy effort that extends beyond election cycles and legislative sessions. Through ongoing relationships with members of Congress and their staffs, NAR members help ensure that policymakers understand how federal decisions affect home buyers, sellers, property owners and local housing markets.
