About this Event
The 2026 US midterms promise to be of momentous importance. Continued Republican control of the House and Senate could open the floodgates for Donald Trump without any need to worry about future elections, while Democrats nabbing control of Congress could lead to a slew of investigations and stymie the president’s agenda. This expert panel examines what is at stake in the upcoming midterms, the critical dynamics shaping high-profile races, and what the outcomes could mean for the future of American politics — and democracy.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
is Director of the US and North America Programme at Chatham House. She brings to this role nearly two decades of experience at the US Department of State, White House National Security Council, US Senate, and in non-profit organisations. Until January 2025, she served as deputy director of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff responsible for US grand strategy. Previously, Laurel Rapp covered US policy towards the United Nations, Europe, and the Middle East in a range of assignments across the US government.
is the Thomas Brackett Reed Professor of Government at Bowdoin College. He studies American political institutions, with an emphasis on the modern presidency, the executive branch, and interbranch relations. His most recent book is By Executive Order: Bureaucratic Management and the Limits of Presidential Power (Princeton University Press). Andy Rudalevige is an honorary professor at University College London affiliated with UCL’s Centre on United States Politics.
holds a PhD in Political Psychology with particular expertise in Trump-era US politics populism, disinformation, social and political trust, political communication and strategy, and UK politics. She has spent 20 years at the forefront of complex political communications and strategy, including five years driving regional strategic initiatives as a senior aide in the UK Parliament. She is also a regular contributor to broadcast and print news media.
Chair: is Associate Professor in the UCL Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy. As founding Director of the UCL Centre on US Politics, he has led extensive scholarship and public engagement analysing US politics and America’s role in the world. He has written widely on political behaviour, public policy, and applications of survey and experimental methods.
Recording
This event will be recorded and the video will be uploaded to our YouTube channel. You can subscribe to our YouTube channel to be alerted when the recording is uploaded.
Seating
Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. We cannot guarantee you a seat, but it is very unusual that we have to turn someone away.
Accessibility
- The corridor outside the lecture theatre(s) is sufficiently wide enough (150cm+) to allow wheelchair users to pass.
- There is step free access into the lecture theatre(s).
- The door opening width(s) is/are 75cm+ for the lecture theatre.
- There are designated spaces for wheelchair users within the lecture theatre.
- The designated spaces for wheelchairs users are located at the back.
- There is space for an assistance dog.
- There is a hearing assistance system for the lecture theatre.
For more accessiblity info and an access guide please visit Accessable
If you have accessibility needs, please let us know and we will do our best to help.
UCL200
2026 is the year in which we celebrate UCL’s Bicentenary, marking 200 years since UCL’s establishment as the first University in London.
UCL Political Science and School of Public Policy are celebrating with a programme of seminars that relate to one of UCL’s core research themes: Fairer Futures
Event venue & nearby stays
Archaeology Lecture Theatre G6, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, United Kingdom
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