Steve Kornacki shares his biggest takeaway from election night

Election Analysis & Midterm Outlook - NBC News poll shows Democrats leading by eight points in the generic ballot for the 2026 midterm elections [2] - The generic ballot was tight in the fall of this year, which initially gave Republicans hope for the 2026 midterms [2] - Trump's low marks on the economy and blame for the government shutdown contributed to the Democrats' advantage [3] - Results in Virginia and New Jersey are consistent with the Democrats' eight-point lead in the generic ballot [3] Key Factors & Potential Implications - Trump's numbers have fallen, indicating a potential shift in voter sentiment [3] - The Democratic lead in the generic ballot suggests a potentially accurate finding [5] - The results in politically competitive parts of Virginia and New Jersey could be indicative of trends in swing districts next year [4]