Will this election cycle see an October surprise? In the latest episode of Discussion Points, The Winston Group’s Myra Miller and David Winston identify three of the biggest surprises of the 2026 Election: the expanded playing field of competitive races, old campaign tactics not working, and the rise of independent voters in determining election outcomes. They give their picks for what they will be looking at first on Election Night as indicators of where the political landscape is heading.
Questions addressed in this episode:
- Why has the competitive playing field of races expanded?
- Why are old campaign tactics not working?
- Why are negative ads having a limited impact or backfiring?
- Why are independents becoming so powerful?
- What are Myra and David’s picks for watching closely on Election Night?
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
