The Republicans’ defeat in the U.S. midterm elections was watched closely in Russia, where some observers are predicting it could herald more support for Ukraine when the Democrats take over Congress in January. But if the Kremlin is hearing the ticking of a clock on its nearly 5-year-old full-scale invasion of its neighbor, it seemingly remains unperturbed. Many Russian commentators argue that the Democrats’ victory could put congressional pressure on President Donald Trump to tread more carefully and toughen his stand on Russia. But others say that Trump will not be more constrained because he will no longer be looking over his shoulder at upcoming elections.
From
To
In her bid for Los Angeles mayor, Nithya Raman ran as an outsider. The democratic socialist didn’t win a single endorsement from her 14 colleagues on the city council. The police union opposed her, she had friction with the Jewish community and the Democratic establishment lined up squarely behind the incumbent, Karen Bass. She now has to show she can lead. As mayor-elect following a stunning upset, Raman will need to navigate political rifts in balkanized City Hall while taking on problems that have defied her predecessors, including a long-running homeless crisis, an exodus of Hollywood jobs and miles of crumbling streets and sidewalks.
The overwhelming victory by the Democrats in the midterm elections shook up Wall Street this week. The biggest tremors were felt in shares of companies tied to the boom in artificial intelligence on concerns that a Democratic Congress will put the brakes on further development of data centers. Defense and oil companies fell on expectations Democrats would push for an end to the U.S.-Iran war, which would likely lower energy prices. Hospital shares rose on the possibility that funding for several government programs could be restored or boosted. Liquor companies and others buffeted by tariffs rose on hopes for relief.
House Democratic leaders are placing an early emphasis on healthcare as they discuss their immediate priorities upon the swearing in of a new Congress on Jan. 3. Early votes in the House next year are expected to focus on boosting Medicaid and restoring an enhanced tax subsidy for Affordable Care Act health plans. Democrats are also promising early votes on legislation to stop the war with Iran and to reverse some of President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is in line to become the next House speaker and he's promising Democrats will “get out of the gate fast.”
Young voters voted overwhelmingly for Democrats in the midterm elections, driven by economic concerns and disillusionment with President Donald Trump’s war in Iran. Also motivating some young voters was the rise of artificial intelligence and the data centers powering the technology. The AP Voter Poll shows about 7 in 10 voters under 30 supported Democrats in local congressional races. That was a dramatic shift from 2024. Experts say many young voters aren't firmly aligned with either party and are influenced by current economic conditions. Their dissatisfaction with Republican leadership is clear, but this support could shift if Democrats fail to address key issues.
President Donald Trump has suggested ending military aid to Israel. A staunch critic of Israel won a key Senate race. The vice president has partly blamed U.S.-Israel relations for his own party's sweeping losses. The election showed U.S. bipartisan support for Israel is in free fall in the wake of its devastating campaign in Gaza and the war with Iran. A cutoff in military aid would mark a major change after the U.S. has given Israel tens of billions of dollars across decades. Israel is likely to face similar pressure even if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's domestic opponents manage to replace him.
From Hungary to Brazil, voters have ousted nationalist leaders or blocked far-right challengers. Now the Democrats’ capture of both chambers of Congress has strengthened hopes among the far-right’s opponents that a decade of populist advance is beginning to reverse. Setbacks in Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands and Sweden add to that argument. The next major test is France, where Marine Le Pen leads presidential polls ahead of the 2027 election. French left-wing leaders draw hope from President Donald Trump’s midterm defeat. Analysts are more cautious: economic frustration and hostility toward incumbents may explain more than an ideological shift.
FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, casts his ballot in his Likud party primary elections ahead of Israel's general election in October, in Jerusalem, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, file)
The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to dismiss its own lawsuit that aimed to stop California from processing up to 20,000 ballots it suspected were mailed to noncitizens. The federal government’s decision comes before a scheduled hearing next week where a special master was to evaluate the list’s accuracy. California officials and a federal judge have said the list is outdated and includes legitimate voters. The lawsuit was part of the Trump administration’s effort to stop alleged illegal voting.
The Capitol is seen under gray skies after American voters this week flipped control of both chambers of Congress from Republican control to the Democrats, in Washington, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)