Anti-Gun Forces Take Congress, and Georgia Is the Next Fight
Anti-gun forces won control of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterms, according to NRA-ILA's post-election assessment. The same results could hand Arizona and Wisconsin trifecta control of state government, with Arizona being a former pro-gun stronghold. The governorships of Georgia and Texas, along with their legislative chambers, may also flip. The full picture is still forming, but gun owners should plan for a much harder legislative environment in 2027.
Key Details
The facts that matter most, as reported by NRA-ILA and Bearing Arms:
- Congress: Anti-gun forces took control of the U.S. Senate and House.
- State trifectas: Arizona and Wisconsin may move to full Democratic control of state government.
- Governors: Georgia and Texas governorships may flip, along with their houses of representatives.
- Spending: Everytown and its billionaire backer Michael Bloomberg spent heavily on these races, but their ads mostly avoided gun control.
- Voter priorities: Polls showed gun control was not a major motivator. Voters focused on the economy and cost of living.
- Crime: NRA-ILA says nationwide violent crime is at its lowest level in FBI measurement history. It concentrates in specific neighborhoods and feuding groups, mostly in Democrat-run localities.
- Georgia: Democrats reportedly now control the state House, the governorship, the lieutenant governorship, and every other statewide office. Republicans hold a two-seat Senate margin.
- Texas Senate: John Cornyn is leaving the seat. Bearing Arms identifies his replacement, James Talarico, as anti-gun.
- Federal filibuster: The Senate filibuster still stands, which blocks most gun bills that cannot reach 60 votes.
Background
Gun control has moved mostly through legislatures and courts, not through the ballot box. In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), the Supreme Court ruled that modern firearm laws must be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation. That standard gave challengers a stronger hand in court, but courts only act after a law passes. Legislatures decide what gets written in the first place.
Congress showed in 2022 how quickly control can change the agenda. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed the Senate with enough Republican votes to clear the filibuster after the Uvalde shooting. The bill expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red flag programs. Georgia took the opposite path that same year, when Gov. Brian Kemp signed permitless carry into law. Georgia's shift shows how much state control matters. Bearing Arms notes that Georgia Republicans for years kept gun control bills from even getting a vote.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
Georgia is the immediate concern. Its carry laws, licensing rules, and preemption protections all sit inside a state legislature that could change hands. Democrats would need only a few Republican defections to pass anti-gun bills in the Senate. A two-seat margin means three Republicans can decide what reaches the governor's desk. Any Georgia gun owner who has relied on the old majority's refusal to hold votes should stop assuming that protection still exists.
Federal risk is narrower but real. The filibuster still protects against most new federal gun laws, but it does not stop executive action, appropriations riders, or rules issued by agencies. Gun owners in Texas should watch the Senate seat closely, because the 2026 result there changes the votes that matter. Arizona and Wisconsin owners face a new reality with a unified Democratic government in their capitals. Watch for bills on magazine capacity, ghost guns, and permit-to-purchase systems, which typically appear first in states with new trifectas.
DownRange Analysis
The NRA-ILA framing is correct on one point. Voters did not reject gun rights in 2026. They prioritized prices and the economy. Gun owners should not confuse a quiet campaign with a settled issue. Anti-gun groups spent heavily and then chose quieter messaging, which tells us they plan to act after the votes are counted. Bruen gives challengers real leverage against new laws, but a law that never passes never reaches the courtroom. Gun owners should treat legislative defense as the primary fight. Right now, that means contacting Georgia state senators, supporting GA2A and similar groups with money and volunteer time, and tracking committee calendars the day sessions open. It also means keeping purchase records, carry permits, and receipts organized in case new registration or permit rules arrive. Buy the gear you need now, while the market still sits calm. Waiting for the next restriction has historically meant paying more.
