Fact Check: "Midterm elections in the U.S. occur every four years."
What We Know
Midterm elections in the United States are held every two years, not every four years. These elections occur halfway through a president's four-year term and involve the election of all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and one-third of the U.S. Senate. According to the U.S. government, the most recent midterm elections were held in November 2022, and the next will take place in November 2026. This cycle is consistent with the established election schedule, where federal elections are set for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years (Election timing).
Analysis
The claim that midterm elections occur every four years is incorrect and reflects a misunderstanding of the electoral schedule in the U.S. Midterm elections specifically refer to those held in the middle of a presidential term, which is two years after the presidential election. This is supported by multiple sources, including the Wikipedia entry on U.S. midterm elections, which clarifies that these elections are conducted every two years to elect members of Congress.
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are official government publications and well-regarded academic resources. The U.S. government website provides clear and authoritative information on the electoral process, while the MIT Election Lab offers insights into the timing and implications of elections, reinforcing the understanding that midterms are biennial events (Congressional elections and midterm elections, Election timing).
Furthermore, the historical context provided in various analyses, such as those from the Presidency Project, illustrates the consistent pattern of midterm elections occurring every two years, which is crucial for understanding the political landscape in the U.S.
Conclusion
The claim that midterm elections in the U.S. occur every four years is False. Midterm elections are held every two years, specifically in the middle of the four-year presidential term. This misunderstanding may stem from conflating midterm elections with presidential elections, which do occur every four years. The established electoral schedule clearly delineates the timing of these elections, confirming that midterms are a biennial event.
