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What does democratic wins mean for the US and the rest of the world

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President Donald Trump gestures as he departs after speaking at a midterm election campaign rally at Salina Regional Airport in Salina, Kan., on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Global leaders offered little public sympathy or encouragement to Preside

President Donald Trump gestures as he departs after speaking at a midterm election campaign rally at Salina Regional Airport in Salina, Kan., on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Global leaders offered little public sympathy or encouragement to President Trump after his party was blown out in the midterm elections, even as they wondered what the result might mean for trade, energy and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Wed Nov 04 2026 - 16:27

Democrats have swept key US midterm races, flipping long-held Republican seats and securing a majority in both congressional chambers.

The results are a wipeout for president Donald Trump’s Republican party and a rejection of his policies.

As formally red states fell to the Democrats, it’s been called a blue wave or a “bluenami” but what will it mean for how the US is governed in the next two years? How will US foreign policy be impacted? And what might it mean for the next presidential election?

Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at UCD’s Clinton Institute, explains.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and host of In the News podcast

Source: The Irish Times · Bernice Harrison

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