November 06, 2026

A Blue Wave in America: The Midterms and Foreign Policy

By: Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend

In a stunning midterm election, Democrats have won back control of the House and Senate. Even with some races still uncalled, Democrats have secured at least 54 Senate seats and a significant majority in the House. Many of their gains came in traditionally Republican states, including Texas, South Carolina, and Ohio, and in districts redrawn at President Trump's urging.

The scale of the Democrats' victory has left many scrambling to understand what it means for the final two years of Trump's presidency and for U.S. foreign policy. Democrats will now have greater power to investigate the administration, shape spending, and potentially constrain Trump's actions abroad. But questions remain about how much Congress can really influence foreign policy, where presidents have traditionally enjoyed considerable freedom. Some analysts suggest that with his domestic agenda blocked, Trump could become even more focused on and unpredictable in foreign affairs.

In Europe, the results have been greeted with relief, but also uncertainty. European leaders may welcome a Congress more supportive of NATO and Ukraine, but Trump remains in the White House. With a Pentagon review of US force posture in Europe expected next month and the war in Ukraine continuing, Europeans are wondering whether the election will meaningfully change Washington's approach. So, today, to unpack these historic midterm elections and what they mean for Trump's remaining two years in office, we're really happy to have with us on Brussels Sprouts, Susan Glasser and Molly Reynolds.

Susan Glasser is a staff writer for The New Yorker.

Molly Reynolds is the vice president and director of the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution.

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