Deciphering the 2026 midterm elections
Tue, November 17, 2026, at 11am
Kathryn Pearson
Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education
College of Liberal Arts
Midland Hills Country Club
2001 Fulham Street
Roseville, MN 55113
UMRA’s November 17 Luncheon Forum at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville will feature Kathryn Pearson, PhD, of the University of Minnesota Department of Political Science, who will analyze the 2026 midterm elections.
Professor Pearson has appeared at many UMRA forums to provide a critical look at important elections. A frequent speaker in all forms of media, she is well known and respected for her reviews of elections, and is a Minnesota institution when it comes to politics. She will give us a fair, incisive, and impartial take on the 2026 midterm elections.
A specialist in American politics and political behavior, Pearson’s research focuses on the United States Congress, congressional elections, political parties, and women and politics. She has published numerous articles on political parties and elections, most recently appearing in The Journal of Politics, Perspectives on Politics, Legislative Studies Quarterly, and Politics & Gender.
Pearson’s book Party Discipline in the House of Representatives, published in 2015 by University of Michigan Press, has been described as “a breakthrough study that looks at the disciplinary measures which party leaders employ to command loyalty from members.” She is currently working on a new book project, Gendered Partisanship in the House of Representatives, analyzing the pursuit of power by congresswomen in a partisan era.
Pearson is the recipient of many honors, including the Morse Alumni Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education. In 2025, she was honored as the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Medalist and named associate dean of undergraduate education and director of the University Honors Program.
Please register (required) and attend the UMRA Luncheon Forum at Midland Hills on Tuesday, November 17. Reservations and payment are due November 7. If you have registration questions, contact the reservationist.
Treat yourself and join us for UMRA’s November 2026 forum presentation by Professor Pearson!
Contact Bill Donahue for questions about this event.
—Bill Donohue, UMRA Program Committee
Help share the warmth
UMRA will be collecting hats, mittens, and scarves at our November 17 Luncheon Forum to help keep kids warm this winter. Items collected will be distributed by the Hats & Mittens nonprofit to children in schools, day cares, libraries, shelters, and agencies that serve children, many of whom are from households living below or near the poverty level and need warm outerwear for Minnesota’s harsh winter weather.
Rebecca Jorgenson Sundquist, founder, will attend the forum.
The program is entirely facilitated by volunteers. Donations come from people like you. If you would like to contribute, please bring new or gently loved items to UMRA’s November 17 Luncheon Forum at Midland Hills. Cash or check donations are also appreciated.
Questions? Email or call UMRA member Kay Louis at [email protected] or 612-581-8857.
Parking: Parking is free. Please enter the Midland Hills clubhouse through the door to the far right (east end), which is closest to our dining room (Turnberry Hall).
Cancellations: Cancellations and refunds will be honored until November 7. We are not able to accommodate registrations on the day of the event.
Upcoming Events
How much do the experiences of our earliest years shape who we become — and even our physical health — decades later? For more than 50 years, University of Minnesota researchers have been exploring that question through the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk and Adaptation. In this UMRA Living Well Workshop, Professor Jeffry Simpson, PhD, will draw on findings from the study to explore the connections between our earliest relationships and our health later in life.
The theme for November is "Hands"
Join us for breakfast and discussion about this year's election results.
UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity tour will offer an insider's look into the important work happening at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. We will enjoy a walking tour through patient exam rooms, student learning areas, and clinical/surgery suites, highlighting how faculty experts and student veterinarians collaborate to deliver life-saving care.
Gift planning strategies and ideas for impactful tax-efficient gifts to accomplish your goals.
Professor Kathryn Pearson, a well-known and respected specialist in U.S. politics and political behavior, will help us to decipher the results of the 2026 midterm elections as the guest speaker for UMRA’s November 2026 Luncheon Forum.
Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda.
The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney.
Consult with a tax professional to come up with a financial plan well before year end.
Join us as we navigate the trails at the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge Education and Visitor Center.
The theme for December is "Pathways and roadways."
Share lunch and interesting conversation.
"Landscape" is the theme of the UMRA Photo Club meeting on Tuesday, January 12.
Delicious food and beverages provided as well as hearing from "Urban Sounds" the U of M student acapella group. Cash bar will also be available. This year, we would like to request nonperishable food items collected for the U of M student food shelf, the Nutritious U Food Pantry.