Latest Midterm Results at a Glance
Democrats have won control of Congress in a stunning rebuke of Donald Trump’s agenda, delivering an astonishing result and a “blue wave” across the country. As of now, Democrats have clinched 54 seats in the Senate (they needed 51 to reclaim the majority) and 225 House seats (they needed 218 to take control of the lower chamber). We’re still awaiting the results for several races – namely in Alaska.
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There were several seismic and historic wins in federal and state races for Democrats. James Talarico became the first Democrat in 38 years to win a US Senate seat in Texas; Adam Hamilton is now the first Democrat to win a US Senate seat in Kansas since 1932; In Maine, progressive Troy Jackson unseated Susan Collins after a thirty-year grip on the state’s US Senate seat; and Abdul El-Sayed won the US senate race in Michigan – on of the cycle’s most closely watched competitions.
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We’re waiting on a number of nail-biting races to be called. The race for US Senate in Mississippi is extremely close, and could see a Democratic upset, and it’s still to early to call the Senate contest in Alaska.
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Demcocrats also made history in a number of gubernatorial races. Keisha Lance Bottoms’ victory in Georgia means that she will the first Black female governor in US history. Gina Hinojosa makes history as Texas’ first Latina governor, and the first Democrat to occupy the governor’s mansion since 1990. Meanwhile, David Crowley became Wisconsin’s first Black governor after winning his race tonight.
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Donald Trump said he was “absolutely willing to accept those results” in an interview with the New York Times. He added: “We’ll, you know, look forward to working with them [Democrats] … We’ll probably work something out.” Source: The Guardian
Watch the video below: BBC Live News
Activity
Part 1: Research and Compare
Work in groups of 3 students.
Research the 2026 U.S. midterm elections and compare them with the 2014 midterm elections.
In 2014, many observers were concerned about voter participation. According to NBC News, public interest in the election actually declined as Election Day approached, an unusual trend in American politics. This raised important questions about voter engagement and the health of democracy.
Source: NBC News
As part of your research, investigate:
- Voter turnout in 2014 compared with 2026. Some info here.
- Key political issues in both elections
- The role of social media and technology
- Public trust in politicians and institutions
- The impact of elections on American society
What if a nation held an election, and most of the country didn’t care or participate? That’s the stark reality from our newest national NBC/WSJ poll, which shows that many voters are tuning out the elections that take place less than three weeks from now. According to the poll, high interest in the midterms has dropped from June (when it was 51%) to now (50%) — when interest in previous election cycles has always increased in the months leading up to Election Day. Let it sink in: INTEREST IN THE ELECTION ACTUALLY DROPPED as the midterms drew closer. It’s truly a stunning trend. Source: NBC News
Part 2: Group Presentation
Prepare a class presentation discussing the importance of elections in democratic societies.
In your presentation, answer the following questions:
- Why are elections in the United States important for the rest of the world?
- What are the major differences between the United States in 2014 and the United States in 2026? See links here.
- Do you think Norway spends too much time and energy following U.S. politics? Why or why not?
- What developments do you expect to shape the U.S. presidential election in 2028?
Discussion and Critical Thinking
Consider the following statement:
“The United States cannot elect a female president in the next election. To win, the Democrats need a strong male candidate, preferably someone with military experience.”
Discuss:
- Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Should a candidate’s gender influence voters?
- What qualities are most important in a political leader?
- Does military experience make someone a stronger presidential candidate? Why or why not?
- Can recent election results support or challenge this argument?
- Are voters more concerned with a candidate’s policies, personality, experience, or background?
Extension Task (Optional)
Compare the American political system with the Norwegian political system.
Consider:
- Voting systems
- Political parties
- Voter turnout
- Election campaigns
- The role of the media
- Trust in government
Which system do you believe best represents the will of the people, and why?
