Here’s how much stocks could fall if the Democrats sweep Congress as expected, according to BofA

Michael Hartnett, the chief equity strategist at Bank of America, has issued a warning regarding the upcoming midterm elections and their potential impact on the financial markets. He noted that there is a growing probability that the Democratic Party will secure control over both the House of Representatives and the Senate. According to Hartnett, this specific political outcome represents a meaningful danger to the current level of risk appetite among investors. If the Democrats manage to sweep both chambers of Congress, the strategist predicts that the value of United States stocks could experience a significant drop.
Stocks Could Fall 10%
The analysis provided by Bank of America suggests that a total victory for the Democratic Party in the midterm cycle could lead to a market contraction exceeding 10%. Hartnett posits that such a decline would be a direct reaction to the shift in legislative power. As the likelihood of a unified Democratic government increases, the strategist believes that the equity markets will face downward pressure. This forecast highlights the sensitivity of Wall Street to the balance of power in Washington, particularly when one party is poised to take over the entire legislative branch.
In his assessment, Hartnett emphasizes that the threat to investor sentiment is substantial. The term meaningful is used to describe the potential disruption to risk appetite that a Democratic sweep would cause. Historically, market participants closely monitor election results to gauge future fiscal and regulatory environments. In this instance, the prospect
Source: marketwatch.com · 2026-10-09