After months of the White House dismissing midterm election questions, President Joe Biden is shifting his focus toward November, when the Democrats’ congressional majorities will be on the ballot.

Biden’s first in-person presidential Democratic National Committee fundraiser Monday night marks a turning point for Democrats amid criticism of Biden’s lack of donor events and a cohesive partywide fall message.

The 2022 outlook for Democrats is “gloomy” given the “powerful” forces conspiring against them in November, according to political commentator Costas Panagopoulos.

“Throw in lackluster approval ratings for Biden, soaring inflation and gas prices, and mixed signals overall in the economy,” he told the Washington Examiner.

But the fall is not a Republican fait accompli, Panagopoulos advised, as the Russia-Ukraine war upends the U.S. political milieu.