The so-called midterm elections will take place in the USA on November 3rd. As popular discontent grows, much is at stake for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.

On November 3, 2026, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be re-elected in the USA. The so-called midterms traditionally take place halfway through a US president's four-year term in office. They are seen as an important test of sentiment for the government.

This mood test could turn into a serious defeat for Donald Trump. His Republican Party currently controls both chambers of Congress. If it loses its majority, it could make it significantly more difficult to implement his political plans.

Current surveys show onegrowing dissatisfactionwith the government. Trump's approval rating is therefore only 33 percent. When asked which party voters in Congress prefer, the Democrats are well ahead of the Republicans at 47 percent to 35 percent.

Iran war becomes a burden for Trump

It plays a central role in the election campaignWar against Iran. The USA and Israel have been carrying out military attacks against the country since February 28th. Washington justifies the war, among other things, with the planned destruction of Iran's missile program and the prevention of an Iranian nuclear bomb. At the same time, Trump has also raised the possibility of overthrowing the Iranian government as a goal. The war has long since developed into a regional conflict. In particular, the extensive blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil trade routes, has serious economic consequences.

Humiliation of a world power: The USA in the Iranian impasse

People in the USA are also feeling the effects directly. Since the start of the war, gasoline prices have risen by around 45 percent, and diesel prices have even increased by around 68 percent. Rising transport costs also have an impact on the prices of numerous goods. It is estimated that the war has already cost the average US household around $2,000.

This means that the war also becomes a problem domestically. During his election campaign, Trump promised to keep the USA out of costly international conflicts. Instead, the country has now been in a war for almost eight months, the end of which remains uncertain.

According to a recentPew Research Center surveyOnly about a third of the US population approves of Trump's handling of the Iran conflict. The government is therefore apparently trying to avoid further escalation until the elections. At the beginning of October, Trump declared that he would not order any further military strikes against Iran before November 3rd. The fact that further warfare is increasingly dependent on the American election calendar illustrates the close connection between Trump's imperialist foreign policy and his domestic power interests.

War in West Asia: Iran makes demands, USA plans to change course

Trump and Musk: Common interests despite disputes

In addition to the Iran war, the renewed rapprochement between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is also attracting attention. The Tesla and SpaceX boss was already one of Trump's most important supporters during the 2024 presidential election. After his election victory, Musk took a leading role in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which pushed forward massive cuts and restructuring of government institutions.

However, in the summer of 2025 it happenedpublic discordbetween the two. Musk criticized Trump's policies and at times even discussed founding his own party. The two have now become closer again. On October 8, 2026, Trump presented Musk with the National Medal of Science at a joint public appearance at the White House. The appearance symbolized the renewed political cooperation between the president and the tech billionaire.

One year of Trump and Big Tech alliance: mass surveillance, censorship and a shift to the right

However, what is even more important than such joint appearances isMusk's financial support. The tech billionaire has contributed more than $276 million to support Republican candidates and campaign organizations since July. $158 million alone went to the Senate Leadership Fund, which supports Republican Senate candidates. Musk's organization America PAC also funds election advertising and mobilization campaigns to encourage Republican voters to vote.

The collaboration shows how closely capital and politics are connected in the USA. Musk and his companies benefit from government orders, approvals and political decisions. For him, billions in interests are at stake, particularly in the areas of space travel, artificial intelligence, telecommunications and armaments. For Trump, in turn, the billionaire's financial resources and political support are an important advantage in the fight for the Republican majority.

Democrats benefit without a real alternative

While the Republican Party is under pressure, the Democrats are hopingsignificant gains. Above all, the high cost of living, dissatisfaction with Trump's economic policy and the Iran war offer them points of attack.

But the Democratic Party also represents the interests of large sections of US capital. In the past, democratic governments have repeatedly supported military interventions, decided on high military spending and defended the economic interests of American companies worldwide. It turns out that both parties represent different strategies for securing the economic and geopolitical supremacy of the USA.

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