Why many Trump-supporting business owners hope Democrats win the midterms

A statistical platform called Race to the White House, which seeks to predict the outcome of every race in 2026 using a variety of data models, predicts that the Democrats have a 69 percent chance of winning the House, with a majority as large as 11 seats. Both The New York Times and pollster Nate Silver are predicting similar outcomes. Republicans still have a 57 percent chance of controlling the Senate, but likely only by a majority of one or two seats. 

Anything can change between now and November. But we all know that midterm election history does not favor the incumbents. At best, Republicans may hold on to the Senate, but there’s also a strong chance the party loses both houses. 

And you know what? As a business owner and a supporter of a number of President Trump’s economic policies, I don’t think this is such a bad thing. And I know many other similar-leaning business owners who feel the same. 

My dad, an accountant and businessman, was a moderate to right-leaning Goldwater/Perot supporter. His belief: the less government does to interfere with his business, the better it is for his business. If he were still alive today, I’m betting he would be a Trump supporter. But he wouldn’t be so averse to a Democrat-controlled Congress, either. 

That because, with congressional control, the Democrats’ main objective won’t be about creating an effective immigration policy, reducing our national debt, tackling inflation, fixing health care, reducing taxes, cutting regulations, tackling inflation or anything else that will benefit businesses and the economy. No, their main objective will be Trump.   

It will be Trump Derangement Syndrome on steroids. They will not compromise. They will not negotiate. They will not shake hands. They will not work together with their political opponents to create policies that will benefit Americans. They will instead do everything they can every day to counter that sexist, racist Nazi King currently occupying the White House. You can expect endless impeachment proceedings and investigations into every action the president and his administration undertakes.   

The Republicans, meanwhile, will behave no better. They will criticize, complain, attack and do everything they can to discredit their opponents. The media will love the drama. The public will be disgusted. Approval ratings will stay in the toilet. The bottom line: A Democratic Congress will accomplish nothing with this White House in power.

And a great majority of business owners like myself will be relieved. That’s because we will experience something that we haven’t really had in the past two years: certainty. 

Very few of my colleagues would dispute that this has been a very pro-business administration. Much has been accomplished in this second term. There has been major legislation that will reduce taxes for countless business owners. There has been a halt to the flow of undocumented immigrants in this country, many who were employed illegally by businesses that undercut their competitors and drain our social system.  

Countless regulations have been eliminated. Multibillion-dollar deals with countries and global firms for investment in the U.S. have been cut. And those dreaded tariffs, though painful for some, have provided a more level playing field for others in the U.S. and incentivized many foreign firms to redirect more work to the U.S. The Trump administration has also pulled back many of the Biden-era labor rules on DEI, joint employers, unionization and other workplace policies that bedeviled many businesses.  

I know — there’s still a lot more to be done, say those on the right. But I’m happy to take these wins. 

With all Trump has been doing since he took office again, he has had little interference from Congress. But the mood will change if — likely when — the Democrats take control. They will be empowered and emboldened to challenge him both in Congress and in the media. And they will have teeth because, unlike after their defeats in 2024, public sentiment will at least apparently be behind them.

Trump will still have some wiggle room with tariffs. He will likely push through new levies on certain sectors. But he will be limited, and will face many more challenges. ICE will be active but under greater scrutiny and investigation by congressional committees who will be under control by Democrats. The federal government will continue to fight regulations impacting labor and environmental policies. Foreign policy and military actions, which impact energy prices and other parts of the economy, will be censored and potentially restrained. The squabbling, arguing, quarreling and clashing will occupy the time of our elected leaders.   

In other words: don’t expect any significant economic legislation over the next two years.   

Gene Marks is founder of the Marks Group, a small-business consulting firm.