Locked In Podcast - Recapping the Mid-Term Elections

On this episode, North Carolina State Representative Amber M Baker examines how the divisions Trump created within his own party contributed, in her view, to the devastating Republican losses on Election Day.

Democrats captured both chambers of Congress, flipped congressional districts in traditionally Republican territory, and delivered significant defeats to GOP incumbents here in North Carolina.

But the larger question extends beyond Tuesday’s election. What happens when a political party becomes so consumed with defending one individual that it begins alienating voters who once considered themselves part of its natural coalition?

And perhaps more importantly, can Republicans rebuild without first confronting the divisions within their own party?

Representative Baker joins Mitch Kokai of the John Locke Foundation for a wide-ranging conversation about the 2026 midterms, North Carolina’s changing political landscape, and what comes next for both parties.

The Triad Podcast Network is proudly sponsored by The Ginther Group Real Estate, Dewey's Bakery, and Three Magnolias Financial Advisors