Midterm Mastermind: A Political Prediction Game
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MIDTERM MASTERMIND
SENATE SHOWDOWN
Pick one winner per state. 3 points per correct call. Maximum: 39.
SENATE: WHO TAKES CONTROL?
Your race picks fill D from the left and R from the right.
50–50 tie: Republican control. Assumes unlisted seats hold; Osborn counts with D; current D-caucusing independents included.
HOUSE: BATTLE FOR 435
Enter either party’s total. The other updates automatically. Each bar counts from its Solid seats toward 218.
GOVERNOR SHOWDOWN
Pick one winner per state. 3 points per correct call. Maximum: 18.
Alaska: choose the final winner after ranked-choice counting.
How to score · 100 points possible
- Senate race calls — 39 points: 3 per correct winner in the 13 races.
- Senate control — 8 points: predict the correct controlling party. A 50–50 tie means Republican control.
- Senate balance — 10 points: 10 minus seats off the final balance, minimum 0.
- Governor race calls — 18 points: 3 per correct winner in the 6 races. Alaska counts as one race; pick the final winner after ranked-choice counting.
- House control — 5 points: predict the correct controlling party. A majority requires 218 seats.
- House balance — 20 points: 20 minus seats off the final balance, minimum 0.
Count seat error once, using either party’s total. Example: predict a 220–215 House; actual result is 216–219. You are 4 seats off and earn 16 balance points.
Senate totals start at 43 D-caucus and 44 Republican seats, then add your 13 race calls. Unlisted seats are assumed to hold; Osborn counts with D. Score against final results and the resulting Senate caucus balance.
Highest total wins. Ties: most correct Senate calls, then smallest Senate balance error, then smallest House balance error, then most correct governor calls. If still tied, share the win.
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Optional: keep a PDF copy for yourself.
House Solid-seat benchmarks: Cook Political Report, Sept. 25, 2026. A rating is not a guaranteed result. Senate snapshot: Oct. 1, 2026. Sources: 270toWin; U.S. Senate; Congress; S.C. Governor; AP. Governor slate and candidates: Oct. 10, 2026; National Governors Association, Alaska Public Media, Stateside. Your draft stays in this browser. Submit sends your name and predictions to the game organizer. After submitting, you can download a PDF copy for yourself.