World
Two Senate races that a year ago were thought to be battlegrounds turned out to be slam-dunks for the Democrats.
Two Senate races that a year ago were thought to be battlegrounds turned out to be slam-dunks for the Democrats.
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<p>Ken Paxton’s defeat a crushing blow to Trump and Republican efforts to keep control of Congress</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/nov/03/midterm-election-results-live-updates">US midterm elections – live updates</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/nov/03/midterm-elections-full-results-senate-house-governor-races">Track live results from all 50 states</a></p></li></ul><p>Democrat <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/15/texas-democrat-james-talarico-televised-town-hall-us-politics">James Talarico</a> has won the US Senate race in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/texas">Texas</a>, breaking a 38-year drought for his party in the Republican stronghold and delivering a stunning blow to Donald Trump.</p><p>Talarico defeated Republican <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/18/ken-paxton-texas-senate-scandal-midterms">Ken Paxton</a>, the state attorney general and a staunch ally of the US president, in one of the most <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/nov/03/midterm-elections-candidates-swing-states">closely watched contests</a> of the midterm elections to decide control of Congress.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/03/james-talarico-ken-paxton-texas-senate">Continue reading...</a>
<p>Republicans routed as Democrats gain powerful new leverage over Trump for remainder of his presidency</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/nov/03/midterm-election-results-live-updates">US midterm elections – live updates</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/nov/03/midterm-elections-full-results-senate-house-governor-races">Track live results from all 50 states</a></p></li></ul><p>Democrats have regained control of the US Senate, routing Republicans nationwide with historic victories that will give them powerful new leverage over Donald Trump for the remainder of his presidency.</p><p>Democrats will soon have the ability to hold up not just Trump’s legislative agenda, but also any appointments he makes to his cabinet or the federal judiciary – including the supreme court, where conservatives have a 6-3 majority.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/03/democrats-senate-republicans-midterms-trump">Continue reading...</a>
<p>Report led by Peter Garrett and former defence chief Adm Chris Barrie says agreement should be suspended and calls for royal commission</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily political email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>A public inquiry into the $368bn Aukus nuclear submarine agreement has called the plan “the worst, riskiest and most costly defence decision ever made by an Australian government”, urging its immediate termination.</p><p>Former Labor MP and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett and former chief of defence Adm Chris Barrie<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/02/peter-garrett-to-head-independent-inquiry-into-the-aukus-submarine-pact"> led the inquiry</a> dominated by critics of the deal with the UK and US, recommending the suspension of plans for new bases and for a royal commission to be held into the agreement signed by the former Morrison government.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/28/politics-really-newsletter-guardian-australia-free-best-daily-auspol-email-subscribe?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/04/aukus-worst-australian-defence-decision-ever-public-inquiry">Continue reading...</a>
Acton is the first Democrat to become governor of Ohio since 2006.