1st Annual Penn Political Review
High School Essay Contest
Welcome!
The Penn Political Review (PPR) invites high school students to participate in our 2026 High School Essay Contest, centered on the upcoming midterm elections, civic engagement, and the future of American democracy.
The 2026 midterm elections offer an important opportunity to think critically about how Americans participate in democracy, how political institutions represent the public, and how contemporary political issues shape the country’s future.
Through this contest, we invite students to respond to a single political question and contribute their own perspective to a broader conversation about American democracy.
About the Contest
Participants will respond to an official essay prompt focused on politics, civic participation, elections, or democratic institutions.
How to Participate
- Read the official essay prompts. Pick one (1) to respond to.
- Develop a clear and original argument in response.
- Write an essay of 1,000 words.
- Review the full contest guidelines before submitting.
- Submit your essay through the official submission form by December 1st at 11:59pm.
Essays should present a clear argument, engage thoughtfully with the question, and support their ideas with reasoning, examples, and evidence where appropriate. We encourage students to develop an original perspective rather than simply summarize existing political debates.
No particular political viewpoint is expected or preferred. Submissions will be evaluated based on the quality of their argument, analysis, evidence, originality, organization, and writing.
Submission Link: PPR Essay Submission Form
Why Participate?
The contest provides high school students with an opportunity to:
- Explore an important political or civic question
- Develop analytical and argumentative writing skills
- Engage with issues surrounding the 2026 midterm elections
- Share their perspective with a community interested in politics and public affairs
- Have their work considered for publication in the Penn Political Review
The winning essay will be published in the Penn Political Review, giving the selected student an opportunity to share their work through Penn’s student political publication. Finalists will have their name displayed on the Penn Political Review website.
Who Can Enter?
- The contest is open to students currently enrolled in grades 9-12.
- No previous experience in political writing or journalism is required. We welcome submissions from students with a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and political perspectives.
2026 Contest Theme
Elections, Civic Engagement, and American Democracy
The 2026 midterm elections provide a starting point for examining larger questions about political representation, public policy, civic participation, and democratic institutions.
This year’s essay prompt asks students to move beyond simply describing current political events. Instead, participants should develop and defend an argument about a broader question raised by American politics and democracy.
Strong submissions will demonstrate thoughtful analysis, consider relevant evidence or examples, and clearly explain why their argument matters.
Essay Prompts
1. The Attention Gap
Midterm elections draw far less media coverage and turnout than presidential races, yet they often decide which party controls Congress and the fate of a president’s agenda. What are the consequences of this “attention gap” for democratic accountability? Consider who tends to vote in midterms, how lower visibility shapes the incentives of candidates, and what this means for their policies that follow. Propose one reform to close the gap, and weigh whether its benefits outweigh its drawbacks.
2. State or Nation?
Senators are elected by individual states but vote on laws that govern the whole country. Select a senator, past or present, who built a campaign around an issue rooted in their home state, whether economic, environmental, cultural, or otherwise. Explain what made this issue distinctive to the state and its voters. Then take a position: should a senator’s first obligation be to the interests of their state or to the nation as a whole?
3. The Overlooked Ballot
When Americans think of midterms, they think of Congress. But the same ballot also decides governors, state legislators, attorneys general, school boards, mayors, and other offices that often shape daily life more directly than Washington does. Choose one such office and examine the real power it holds in communities, using specific examples of decisions it has made or could make. Is this office’s influence underestimated by the public? If so, explain why, and argue what that gap in public understanding means for how well these officials are held accountable.