The following article is designed to help parents dialogue about a current event with their children. It was written at a 7th grade reading level.
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It’s t-minus five days until all those yard signs disappear midterm elections.
Midterms happen every four years, midway through each presidential term. The law is very specific: they’re always on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This year, that’s November 3.
Midterms are all about Congress and the states. Voters elect all 435 U.S. House members (they serve two-year terms) and one-third of U.S. senators. Many states also vote for governors, school board members, and more.
These elections get less buzz, but they shape the country as much as the presidential election does. Congress decides things like jobs, taxes, and healthcare. Governors and legislatures handle education (like public school standards), state minimum wages, and housing. In other words, the stuff that affects you most is determined by the people elected in five days.
Midterms also matter to the president. He needs Congress on his side to get much of his agenda done, so he wants his party to hold the majority. However, the president’s party nearly always loses seats in the House, Senate, or both during midterms. Right now, there are slightly more Republicans in both chambers: 218-214 in the House and 53-47 (counting two independents who vote with Democrats) in the Senate.
Over 39 million people have already reportedly voted early. More Democrats have voted so far than Republicans, but the GOP could make up ground on Election Day. Either way, it’ll be a day of tight, closely watched races.
Tight on time for voting prep? Use this Minnesota guide to meet the candidates, understand ballot measures, and pray for your state with your family.
REFLECT
What do I want to make sure my kids know in light of this story?
Elections are important, but they’re not this-will-matter-10,000-years-from-now important.
Being able to vote in an election and influence your government’s decisions is a good gift from God, and Christians get to use their vote to promote God-glorifying flourishing in their communities. But while it’s important to feel the weight of our choices, elections don’t outweigh God’s unwavering, unthwartable plans and promises (Job 42:2). Our votes may change present-day policies, but they won’t change how the story ends.
We can rest secure no matter which candidates win.
How can I model loving an enemy when discussing this story?
By approaching political conversations with grace and humility.
Jesus told us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48), and in today’s world, our most visible “enemies” sit across the political aisle from us. We don’t have to compromise on our convictions and values to love our enemies, but we can set aside our pride.
Rather than talking about issues or parties with an “us vs. them” mentality, we can model our enemy-loving Savior by remembering that our political “enemies” are image bearers, talking about them with dignity, and praying earnestly that the Spirit would help us speak truth in love.
RESPOND
Write a job description. Even if your child can’t vote yet, they can start thinking wisely about how to look at candidates. Have the family or some friends write down 5-10 character qualities and priorities that would make you excited to vote for a candidate. Note what made everyone’s list, and discuss the differences.
Memorize Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (CSB)
Pray for election season. God of Justice and Peace, guard us from the anger and division that so easily creep into election seasons. Keep our communities, families, and churches from being swept up in fights that pull us apart or tempt us to find our identity in parties, policies, or politicians. Open our ears to hear the cries of our neighbors. Open our eyes to see the people around us as image bearers we’re called to love. And shape our words to speak life and truth, so that we point to our One True Leader and say, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13 ESV) Amen.
Credit: Decaf (The Pour Over for Families). "Election Szn." October 29, 2026.