09/10/2026
Midterm season is here, and if you feel a little uneasy watching the headlines, you are not alone.
History gives us some useful context. The run-up to a midterm election tends to bring more market swings than usual. That choppiness is a normal, well-documented pattern, not a sign that something is wrong.
Once results are finalized, markets have historically settled and the months that follow have generally been strong for stocks. As the graph shows, the S&P 500 finished higher in the 12 months following each of the last six midterm elections, going back to 2002. Gains ranged from 2.1% in 2010 to nearly 15% in 2002, but the direction held steady every time.
What actually moves your portfolio day to day is interest rates, inflation, corporate earnings, and productivity gains. Those forces do not pause for an election.
Our guidance stays the same: stay invested, stay diversified, and let your financial plan guide your decisions rather than short-term political noise. If anything changes that outlook, we will reach out.
Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
