The Midterm Our mission and scope
We explain who is running, what is at stake, and how to vote in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. We are a guide and a people desk, not a breaking-news wire. We do not claim to have reporters on the ground in every state, and we do not publish interviews we did not conduct.
Sourcing and attribution
Every factual claim needs a source a reader can check. We prefer primary documents: election-office records, court filings, campaign finance reports, voting records, and official candidate sites. When we use reporting from another outlet, we name it and link to it. We never present another outlet's reporting as our own.
Claims about what a candidate said or did are attributed to a specific interview, debate, ad, or public record. We use neutral verbs ("said," "voted," "proposed") and avoid loading words such as "extreme" or "radical" unless we are quoting someone. For allegations, we use "charged," "accused," or "alleged" and link to the court record or a major wire report. Our fact-check policy explains the two-source rule in more detail.
News, analysis, and opinion
We publish news, analysis, and explainers. Analysis is labeled "Analysis" in the title or dek and is held to the same factual standard as news. Opinion pieces are labeled "Opinion" at the top and are signed. Race hubs, voting guides, and candidate profiles contain no opinion. The label tells you what you are reading, and the label is never buried.
Use of AI
We may use AI tools for transcription, translation drafts, research assistance, and copy editing. A human editor reviews every page before publication and is responsible for its accuracy. We do not use AI to invent quotes, poll numbers, biographies, or endorsements, and we do not treat an AI system as a source. When AI tools materially shape a page, we disclose that in the page note. AI systems are never credited as authors.
Accuracy and corrections
We check names, dates, numbers, titles, and quotations before publication. When we get something wrong, we fix it and say so. Our corrections policy explains how to report an error, what we correct, how corrections are labeled, and how quickly we respond. Corrections are public and are not quietly deleted.
Political independence
We do not endorse candidates or parties, and we do not donate to campaigns. No candidate, party, campaign, PAC, or government office has any role in our editorial decisions. We do not accept payment, gifts, or travel that could affect coverage. Freelancers disclose relevant political work and recuse themselves from races where they have a conflict. Our about page describes how the site is funded.
Advertising separation
Advertising and sponsorship are sold separately from editorial work. Advertisers do not see stories before publication and cannot approve, reject, or influence coverage. Sponsored content is labeled "Sponsored" and is visually distinct from editorial pages. If we accept political advertising, it is labeled, and accepting it does not change what we publish. Our terms set out the rules for using the site.
Complaints and accountability
If you believe we got a fact wrong, mislabeled a page, or broke this policy, email zhaoq8778@gmail.com with the page URL and the specific concern. Our contact page lists other ways to reach us. We review complaints, respond, and publish a correction when one is warranted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Midterm Ledger have a political bias?
We are non-partisan. We apply the same standards to both parties, and we do not endorse candidates.
Do you use AI to write articles?
We may use AI for research, transcription, and editing support. A human editor reviews every page, and AI is never credited as an author.
How do you label opinion?
Opinion is marked "Opinion" at the top and signed. Analysis is labeled in the title or dek. News pages carry neither label.
How do I complain about a story?
Email zhaoq8778@gmail.com with the URL and your concern. See our corrections policy for errors of fact.
Sources
- Society of Professional Journalists: Code of Ethics — accessed October 28, 2026.
- AP News Values and Principles — accessed October 28, 2026.
- Poynter Institute — journalism ethics and fact-checking guidance. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Pew Research Center — public-opinion research. Accessed October 28, 2026.