Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
11 November 2026 | 13:23 CAT
3-minute read

2026 Democratic “bluenami”

Democrats made historic gains in the US midterm elections, achieving sweeping victories across the country and gaining majority control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

During this week’s Media Lens, Ibrahim Deen breaks down the historic election to explain how the ‘bluenami’ unfolded as traditional Republican strongholds fell.

According to preliminary data from the University of Florida Election Lab, approximately 124 million Americans cast ballots in the election, resulting in an estimated voter turnout rate of 63 percent.

Voter dissatisfaction regarding economic conditions and leadership propelled Democrats to victories across the ballot, leading President Trump to acknowledge that the Republican Party had lost control of Congress.

Based on the called results, the Democrats have won approximately 59 percent seats in the House of Representatives and 54 Senate seats.

Deen explained that the shift in power on Capitol Hill carries immediate consequences for President Trump’s policy agenda and executive decision-making during the second half of his term.

With Democrats controlling both the House and the Senate, the opposition party now serves as a direct institutional check on the administration. Passing party-line legislative priorities through Congress will become substantially more difficult for the White House, while Democratic committee chairs gain the authority to launch congressional investigations, hold oversight hearings on administration policies, and scrutinise executive branch appointments and federal budgets.

However, the Senate results also introduce critical procedural constraints for the incoming Democratic majority. Because Democrats fell short of the 60-vote threshold required to overcome a Senate filibuster, a united Republican minority retains the leverage to stall major legislation and force bipartisan concessions in the upper chamber.

Media coverage of the election

Deen compared media coverage of this election to that of past polls, where well-funded campaigns were more likely to win because of increased media advertising.

However, this election differed. Deen drew on the example of Elon Musk, who spent more than $200 million on the midterm election in Texas – but the Republican candidates he backed lost. On the other hand, donors and outside groups spent hundreds of millions of dollars on ads to attack Abdul El-Sayed, and yet he still won.

This points to the dynamic nature of media and its changing role in election coverage, Deen said.

Deen also observed that media coverage of the power that Trump still retains remains limited.

“Trump still holds the main levels of power. He still controls foreign policy. There’s very little focus on what that means foreign policy-wise. He still controls a veto, which allows him to veto Senate resolutions in the way that can be reversed is if a party has 66 seats,” Deen said.

He noted that the combination of such significant power, substantial financial backing, and continued support from major corporations meant that while the Republicans may have lost ground in certain areas, they still maintain control over the primary centres of influence. He added that there had been little to no media coverage of that reality.

Trump’s power means the situation is unlikely to change

Trump’s position of power and his increasing frustration at domestic politics mean that drastic change is unlikely to occur overnight, particularly in terms of the United States’ position on foreign policy.

Under the US Constitution, Trump retains broad authority over foreign policy, raising concerns for the Global South – despite a slight softening in rhetoric regarding Iran, where the blockade remains active.

For South Africa, however, the Democratic Party’s Senate victory offers a potential silver lining. Because the Senate oversees the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the shift in congressional control could lead to a reversal of policies that have previously threatened South Africa’s trade standing with Washington.

Analysts warn that a domestically frustrated administration may pivot to asserting itself aggressively on the global stage.

“A Trump administration who’s frustrated domestically may actually try to assert itself globally, which doesn’t bode well for the global south and most other countries, except probably Israel,” Deen said, alluding to the Republican vote on November 10 to block an impeachment effort against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Deen said impeachment vote highlights the limits of Democratic influence, with Republicans retaining enough support to block removal efforts. With Democrats unlikely to secure the required two-thirds majority, domestic compromise will be necessary to avoid another government shutdown. However, mounting frustration over stalled policies could push Trump towards a more aggressive foreign policy approach.

Listen to the Media Lens with Ibrahim Deen on Sabaahul Muslim, hosted by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.