What The Midterm Elections Mean for the Bike Business
By: Chris Bell, Director of Federal Policy
A new Congress could bring new priorities for tariffs, trails, and e-bikes.
The 2026 midterm elections took place on Tuesday, November 4. While votes have yet to be counted in a few key races, the landscape for the next Congress is clear: Democrats will hold majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the 120th Congress.
Democrats gained more seats than many forecasts predicted, and if results hold, Democrats are estimated to control as many as 258 seats in the House and 56 seats in the Senate.
The new Congress could reshape the policies that matter most to the bike business, from tariff authority to trail funding and e-bike classification. Here’s what’s likely to move, what isn’t, and who will be championing bikes on Capitol Hill.
Election Results for Key Locations and Congressional Champions
Some regions important to the U.S. bicycle industry and bicycle riders did not change hands. Democrats gained congressional seats in Colorado, California, and Minnesota while maintaining seats in Oregon and Washington. Republicans maintained seats in Arkansas and Utah.
for the bike industry