The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

It's a Numbers Game: The Numbers Behind America’s Shifting Electorate & the 2026 Midterm Outlook

Dec 4, 2025
Discover the startling shifts in America's electorate as Ryan analyzes recent special elections and the power of gerrymandering. He reveals surprising trends in Democratic engagement and the impact on 2026 prospects. Explore the concept of wave elections, the rarity of significant seat swings, and how social inflation affects insurance costs. Uncover the myths surrounding abortion as a voting motivator and project potential Democratic gains in key states. This insightful breakdown blends numbers with real-time political dynamics.
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ANECDOTE

Spotify Age Guess And Holiday Plans

  • Ryan shares a personal Spotify anecdote where Spotify guessed his age as 68 based on his music tastes.
  • He uses the story to introduce lighter holiday episodes and upcoming podcast segments with Gen Z staff.
INSIGHT

Independent Voters Driving Recent Swings

  • Republicans won Tennessee's 7th by 9 points despite Trump carrying it by 22 points, signaling independent shifts rather than turnout issues.
  • Ryan says independents worried about the economy drove a 13-point Democratic swing in a midterm-turnout special.
INSIGHT

Historic Democratic Overperformance In Specials

  • Across 62 special elections Democrats overperformed by an average of 11 points, a historic level of special-election gains.
  • Ryan warns mid-decade gerrymandering alone won't stop a potential Democratic wave if trends hold.
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