AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms
Published . Updated .
Key takeaways
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What drove the 2026 midterm election results, and what do they reveal about the direction of American politics? In a recent panel on campus, Wesleyan Government faculty reflected on the forces behind the election results and what they could mean for the next Congress, American
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF+1.1% 30d
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “war” (defense) in this story.
- XAR SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF-3.6% 30d
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “war” (defense) in this story.
- QQQ Invesco QQQ-9.8% 30d
Invesco QQQ: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF+0.4% 19d
iShares TIPS Bond ETF: it is a common hedge when prices rise. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story.
- MSFT Microsoft+4.0% 30d
Microsoft (prepackaged software): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- GOOGL Alphabet-15.6% 30d
Alphabet (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- AMZN Amazon.com+8.7% 30d
Amazon.com (catalog and mail-order houses): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- META Meta Platforms-11.5% 30d
Meta Platforms (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITA | -2.04% | -4.68% | base | +0.51% | after close | after close | after close |
| XAR | -4.70% | -5.20% | base | +0.73% | after close | after close | after close |
| QQQ | +2.50% | -2.74% | base | +1.99% | after close | after close | after close |
| TIP | +0.74% | +0.94% | base | -0.05% | after close | after close | after close |
| MSFT | +4.29% | -0.49% | base | -2.16% | after close | after close | after close |
| GOOGL | +0.54% | -0.95% | base | +1.21% | after close | after close | after close |
| AMZN | -1.76% | -4.23% | base | -1.61% | after close | after close | after close |
| META | -1.80% | -4.88% | base | -0.97% | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms Wesleyan University
Source: Wesleyan University
Price since this story was published: Microsoft (MSFT)
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Com (AMZN) | that day | -1.61% | still updating |
| Amazon Com (AMZN) | three days earlier | -4.23% | final price |
| Amazon Com (AMZN) | five days earlier | -1.76% | final price |
| Alphabet (GOOGL) | that day | +1.21% | still updating |
| Alphabet (GOOGL) | three days earlier | -0.95% | final price |
| Alphabet (GOOGL) | five days earlier | +0.54% | final price |
| IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) | that day | +0.51% | still updating |
| IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) | three days earlier | -4.68% | final price |
| IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) | five days earlier | -2.04% | final price |
| Meta Platforms (META) | that day | -0.97% | still updating |
| Meta Platforms (META) | three days earlier | -4.88% | final price |
| Meta Platforms (META) | five days earlier | -1.80% | final price |
| Microsoft (MSFT) | that day | -2.16% | still updating |
| Microsoft (MSFT) | three days earlier | -0.49% | final price |
| Microsoft (MSFT) | five days earlier | +4.29% | final price |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | that day | +1.99% | still updating |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | three days earlier | -2.74% | final price |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | five days earlier | +2.50% | final price |
| Ishares Tr (TIP) | that day | -0.05% | still updating |
| Ishares Tr (TIP) | three days earlier | +0.94% | final price |
| Ishares Tr (TIP) | five days earlier | +0.74% | final price |
| Spdr Series Trust (XAR) | that day | +0.73% | still updating |
| Spdr Series Trust (XAR) | three days earlier | -5.20% | final price |
| Spdr Series Trust (XAR) | five days earlier | -4.70% | final price |
Congressional trades in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Microsoft (MSFT) (held by a dependent child), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Oct 2026. That is 14 days before publication. Filed 5 Nov 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Shelley M Capito sold Microsoft (MSFT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 21 Oct 2026. That is 21 days before publication. Filed 4 Nov 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse sold Microsoft (MSFT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 15 Oct 2026. That is 27 days before publication. Filed 2 Nov 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Alphabet (GOOGL) (held by a dependent child), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Oct 2026. That is 14 days before publication. Filed 5 Nov 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Alphabet (GOOGL), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Sep 2026. That is 58 days before publication. Filed 18 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Alphabet (GOOGL) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 68 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Amazon Com (AMZN), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 27 Oct 2026. That is 15 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Amazon Com (AMZN) (held by a spouse), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Amazon Com (AMZN) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Aug 2026. That is 75 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Meta Platforms (META) (held by a dependent child), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Oct 2026. That is 14 days before publication. Filed 5 Nov 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Shelley M Capito sold Meta Platforms (META) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 21 Oct 2026. That is 21 days before publication. Filed 4 Nov 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Meta Platforms (META) (held by a dependent child), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 5 Nov 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Microsoft (MSFT)
Companies tied to this story
- MSFT Microsoft
For “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms,” Microsoft (MSFT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Microsoft (prepackaged software): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- GOOGL Alphabet
Alphabet (GOOGL) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 11 Nov 2026 story “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms.” Reason on file: Alphabet (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- AMZN Amazon Com
In “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms,” Amazon Com (AMZN) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Amazon.com (catalog and mail-order houses): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- META Meta Platforms
For “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms,” Meta Platforms (META) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Meta Platforms (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- ITA IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 11 Nov 2026 story “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms.” Reason on file: iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “war” (defense) in this story
- XAR Spdr Series Trust
In “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms,” Spdr Series Trust (XAR) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “war” (defense) in this story
- QQQ Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1
In “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms,” Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Invesco QQQ: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- TIP Ishares Tr
Ishares Tr (TIP) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 11 Nov 2026 story “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms.” Reason on file: iShares TIPS Bond ETF: it is a common hedge when prices rise. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story
How defense news reaches Microsoft (MSFT)
On 11 Nov 2026, “AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms” is the story that connects Microsoft (MSFT) to Defense.
What ties Microsoft (MSFT) to the headline is this: Microsoft (prepackaged software): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
Alphabet (GOOGL) is here too. Its reason reads: Alphabet (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
Price levels for Microsoft (MSFT)
AMZN traded between 229.37 and 275.23 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 270.90. GOOGL traded between 276.93 and 359.38 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 288.99. MSFT traded between 505.00 and 559.14 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 533.18.
A simple score for Microsoft (MSFT)
46 out of 100Price not final
“AI, Inflation, and War: The Issues Driving the 2026 Midterms” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies. The price is not final yet.