Politics

US Midterms: Could a blue wave widen the centrist-progressive divide among Democrats ahead of 2028?

As the US approaches the midterms, the contest is emerging as a referendum on Donald Trump, the resilience of American democratic institutions and the ability of a divided Democratic Party to transform widespread public dissatisfaction into a coherent political alternative. With some Republicans now seeking to distance themselves from Trump, Katy Hull, Assistant Professor of American Studies at the University of Amsterdam, suggests that the president's highly populist and personalised approach to politics is becoming an electoral liability. Philip Turle observes Republican voters turning towar

What could happen if Donald Trump loses US midterm elections?

Americans head to the polls on Tuesday in pivotal midterm elections, with Democrats hoping to seize control of Congress and impose the first significant checks on Donald Trump's second term in the White House. But what could happen in the United States if Republicans lose control of Congress? FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle has more.

US Supreme court rejects Trump request to set aside 20,000 California ballots

The US Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s push to force California to set aside 20,000 ballots from people the federal government claims are noncitizens, a decision that came hours before the final day of voting in the pivotal midterm elections. FRANCE 24's correspondent Wassim Cornet reports.

Poland foils attempted 'provocation' on Russian border, PM Tusk says

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday that Poland prevented an attempted "provocation" on its border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad overnight. He gave few details but said Polish security forces prevented any incident from happening.

Californians vote on ballot initiative to impose one-time tax on billionaires

This Tuesday, Californians are voting on a landmark plan to impose a one-time tax on billionaires to fund the state's healthcare system. We take a closer look. Also on the show: global oil prices fell sharply on the eve of the US midterm elections. This came after Iran said it was holding intensive talks through mediators towards negotiating peace and signalled that it was ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US accepted its conditions. Both Brent and WTI fell by around 8 percent.

US midterm elections: A referendum on President Donald Trump?

Americans deliver their verdict on Donald Trump's tumultuous first term in midterm elections that threaten to shatter his grip on Washington, with Democrats poised to seize the House and within striking distance of the Senate.

How Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will shape his state’s 2026 midterm race

The outgoing governor and former presidential candidate has transformed Florida into a conservative policy vanguard.

Can US midterm election really change Trump's Iran policy?

The US midterms are at hand, but their impact on the Iran war remains far from clear. Analysts say the Washington political elite may not be as divided on Iran as it appears.

US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island as midterm elections start

The United States has conducted defensive strikes on some Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official said Monday, on the eve of crucial midterm elections. The unpopular Iran war and the resulting impact on U.S. gasoline prices and other parts of the economy have been a vulnerability for Republicans as they try to keep control of Congress. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Oliver Farry has more.

🔴 Senegal's opposition-dominated parliament rejects key revised budget bill

Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin for talks with Merz on air defense and energy support ahead of US-led negotiations with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Kyiv is seeking more air defense missiles and help keeping its energy system running through winter.

Polls open in closely contested US midterm elections 2026

Democrats are eyeing historic gains in the US Congress that could change the trajectory of the country.

US midterm elections: Food stamp crisis a key campaign issue in Arizona

Arizona, a battleground state in the US midterm elections, is at the centre of a sweeping overhaul of America's social safety net. Since US President Donald Trump's tax and spending law passed last year, about half of the state's food stamp recipients have lost their benefits – the steepest drop in the country. State officials now admit that some of them are probably still eligible, but the errors have caused food insecurity to spike. The fallout has become a key issue on the campaign trail.

South Africans demand security and basic services as they vote in local elections

High crime rates and a lack of basic services are causing concern among many of South Africa’s 29 million registered voters. Water shortages and unreliable electricity supplies have also become symbols of municipal failures, angering voters and eroding support for the ruling African National Congress. The municipal elections on November 4 will offer a glimpse into whether these frustrations are shifting political loyalties.

Alaska Senate candidates trade accusations ahead of election

Alaska Senate candidates trade accusations ahead of election

Manchester City, the UAE and the UK's PM in a political tangle

Nearly 20 years after arriving in England, Manchester City's UAE owners could exit amid cheating charges. That would pose a challenge for a city — and prime minister — closely tied to Abu Dhabi.

US midterms: Americans vote in polls seen as referendum on Trump

The crucial midterms will determine how much power President Donald Trump has to make changes in the last two years of his term. Follow DW's live updates.

Voter voices: Trump's influence on US midterm voters

We asked voters whether they supported Trump in 2024, and how his performance in office is shaping their choices this time.

Midterms: Trump uses final appeal to talk about troubled Reflecting Pool

In his final major speech before midterm elections in which polls but the Democrats well ahead of the Republican Party, Donald Trump on Monday spent more than 20 minutes discussing pipes, joints and caulking as he touted his troubled renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington. To many critics, the renovations have become a symbol of government incompetence and misplaced priorities after delays caused by peeling paint and algae growth ‌that turned the pool’s waters green.

Unclear what comes next as US strikes Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz

The United States on Monday attacked Iran's Qeshm Island, the Wall Street Journal reported, even as President Donald Trump signaled progress in negotiations with Tehran to end the eight-month-old conflict. The Journal, citing unnamed US officials, described the strike against Qeshm, the the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, as the latest of a series of limited strikes Washington has secretly carried out against Iran in recent weeks.