2026 Midterms: Voters, Taxes, AI and California's Political Landscape

The 2026 midterm elections are taking shape, and Mark Simon and Bob Marks take a wide-ranging look at what voters may be telling politicians this November. They examine the battle for control of the U.S. House and Senate, the political environment facing Republicans and Democrats, key races in California and around the country, and the challenges facing candidates trying to motivate voters in an increasingly unsettled political climate. The conversation then turns to California, including the governor's race, statewide ballot measures, the proposed billionaire tax, voter ID, environmental regulations, and the growing fight over data centers and AI. Locally, Mark and Bob look at uncontested city council and school board races, San Mateo's development debate, and the extraordinary number of local tax and revenue measures appearing on the ballot. They also discuss whether growing voter dissatisfaction and concerns about affordability could produce a new wave of tax resistance. Finally, they step back and consider the larger mood of the electorate: after years of political swings, are voters simply asking their leaders to stop fighting and start getting things done? The episode also opens with a remembrance of September 11, 2001, on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, including Mark and Bob's memories of that day and a discussion of how its legacy continues to shape American politics and security. Chapters 00:00 — Welcome & Setting the Stage for the 2026 Midterms 00:46 — Remembering September 11, 2001 05:28 — From 9/11 to the 2026 Midterm Elections 06:21 — The Ballot and Redistricting Battles 07:12 — Trump's Numbers and the Political Environment 08:09 — The Battle for the House 09:50 — The Senate Races to Watch 10:22 — Where Republicans Need to Focus 11:23 — Texas, Michigan and Vulnerable Democratic Candidates 13:43 — How Much Can Polls Really Tell Us? 14:36 — Is Texas Still a Democratic Mirage? 15:27 — Trump's Role in the Midterms 16:49 — California's Congressional Races 17:52 — California's Governor's Race 18:47 — Steve Hilton and the Republican Challenge 19:09 — The Future of California's Democratic Leadership 20:34 — The Insurance Commissioner Race 20:59 — Proposition 40 and the Billionaire Tax 23:31 — Proposition 39 and Voter ID 24:25 — Proposition 45 and CEQA Reform 25:37 — Proposition 3 and California's Upper-Income Tax 26:18 — Data Centers, AI and Public Distrust 27:41 — Could AI Become an Existential Threat? 30:20 — AI's Growing Power and What It Can Do 31:51 — From Statewide Politics to Local Elections 32:23 — Uncontested City Council and School Board Races 33:48 — Growth and Development in San Mateo 34:15 — The $2 Billion Question: Local Tax Measures 36:06 — Are Voters Becoming More Skeptical of Taxes? 37:10 — Lessons from Proposition 13 38:22 — Could Tax Fatigue Become a Political Force? 40:22 — What Is the Mood of California Voters? 41:16 — Do Voters Want Results Instead of Impeachment? 42:24 — Affordability, Inflation and the Economy 43:30 — Trump's $5,000 Promise 44:30 — Iran, Ukraine and the November Election 46:29 — Looking Ahead to Election Day Subscribe for more conversations on California politics, national issues, and the people shaping both. The Game is hosted by Mark Simon and Bob Marks and produced by Frank Bravo, BravoITC.com and YourTechMakeover.com. You can see more information about The Game at TheGamePeninsula.com.