Live blog for the midterms: ++ The first polling stations are open ++

The first polling stations have opened in the eastern United States. An exciting race is expected in several states. These midterms are about more than just the replacement of Congress. The E

Live blog midterms ++ Trump defends Iran war ++ As of: November 5th, 2026 • 6:16 a.m

Despite the election debacle, US President Trump has emphasized that he wants to stick to the course in the Iran war. Foreign Minister Wadephul expects continued constructive cooperation with the US government.

The most important developments at a glance:

We are closing the live blog. Thank you for your interest!

Republican US Senator Ted Cruz has accused his party of serious failings following its defeat in the midterm elections. Too many Republican politicians either did not understand the economic concerns and the plight of many Americans or were not interested in them, the senator from Texas wrote on Platform

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani sees Americans' desire for change "that they can feel in their wallets" in the wave of Democratic victories in the midterm elections. The victories are a “true reflection of what the American people want,” Mamdani said. "Last night showed us that working people are the majority, whether we're talking about Austin, Ann Arbor or Astoria," he said. "It's a new dawn in America."

The winner of the Senate election in the US state of Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, sees his success against Republican Mike Rogers as voters' rejection of a "hateful, spiteful" election campaign. Voters did not respond to Republican attempts to demonize him throughout the campaign because he was Muslim and Egyptian, El-Sayed told the AP news agency.

This campaign had nothing to say about the issues and only wanted to point to his name and face. “The people of Michigan rejected this,” he said.

After the US general election, prominent Democrat Hakeem Jeffries is positioning himself for the top job as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He announced his candidacy on his website. The days in which the House of Representatives functions like a wholly owned subsidiary of US President Donald Trump's administration are over, he wrote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is counting on more aid for his country attacked by Russia after the Democratic Party's victory in the US midterm elections. He was also grateful to the Republicans, he said in an interview with Jan Böhmermann for ZDF. "But the Democrats are talking very clearly about supporting Ukraine, about aid to Ukraine. They are talking about renewing the connection between the USA and Europe," Zelensky said, according to the broadcaster.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff sharply criticized President Donald Trump after his re-election in the US state of Georgia. The American people have rejected the "depravity, corruption and incompetence" of a failed president on call, Ossoff said.

Ossoff was a prime target of Republican attacks during the campaign and was the only Democratic senator running for re-election in a state Trump won in 2024. Ossoff raised more than $100 million in campaign contributions. That has fueled speculation that he could run for president in 2028.

Florida's outgoing Republican Governor Ron DeSantis expects significantly more conflict in Washington after the Democrats' victories in the US midterm elections. “You’re going to see a lot more conflict between Congress and the administration,” DeSantis said. The chances of a Democratic-controlled Congress confirming Trump's nominees to the Supreme Court or ministries would be "zero."

Pope Leo XIV responded to the results of the US election with an appeal for the common good. "The political community exists for the sake of the common good," he said in Italian to hundreds of believers in St. Peter's Square. The exercise of political power must always be aimed at the common good and always have the well-being of the entire human family in mind. Leo voted himself in the US election. He's from Chicago

Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expects continued constructive cooperation with the US government after the midterm elections in the USA. “I have a very good, intact relationship with my colleague Marco Rubio and Chancellor Merz with President Trump,” he said on ARD Brennpunkt. They are the first point of contact for the federal government. “But it is normal that Congress will also take on a stronger role in foreign policy than has been the case in the past two years,” said the CDU politician.

Johann Wadephul, Federal Foreign Minister, on the results of the US midterms Focus, Das Erste, November 4th, 2026 • 8:15 p.m. November 4th, 2026 • 8:17 p.m. Jeffries: "That was an American tsunami" The leader of the Democrats in the US House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, has described the results of the midterm elections as an "astonishing rebuke to MAGA extremism" referred to. At a press conference, he referred to US President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again". “This wasn’t just a blue wave,” Jeffries said of the election results. "It was an American tsunami." Jeffries also pointed to the party's gains in gubernatorial and Senate races. "This was a great victory for the Americans," he said.

US President Donald Trump says he is not thinking about firing his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. When asked about this the day after his Republicans' debacle in the general election, he said: "No, I think he's doing a very good job."

CBS News had previously reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Trump had asked his advisers after the election defeat whether Hegseth should remain in office.

The Iran war, which Trump started together with Israel, put an enormous strain on the Republicans during the election campaign. The resulting increase in fuel prices was one of the main concerns of Americans before the elections.

The winner of the US Senate election in Texas, James Talarico, wants to concentrate on everyday issues in the Senate and not seek political retaliation. The voters gave the Democrats “one last chance” to “deliver for them,” Talarico told CNN.

Asked whether the future Democratic-controlled Congress should begin impeachment proceedings against members of President Trump's administration, Talarico said: "They didn't send us to Washington for political retaliation." Voters wanted Democrats to lower the cost of living, fight corruption and get the economy back on track.

US President Donald Trump has admitted that the Iran war played a role in the midterms. “The Iran thing was something we had to do and we continue to do,” Trump said after his Republicans suffered numerous defeats in the midterm elections.

Vice President JD Vance had previously blamed the Iran War for the party's defeats. “The reason we lost is the war,” he wrote in a lengthy online post.

What is the status of the counting of the election results for the US Senate and the House of Representatives? more

For technical reasons, the third part of the midterm live blog ends here. Here are the developments to read:

US Vice President Vance attributes the Republican defeats to the Iran war. more

For technical reasons, the second part of the midterm live blog ends here. Here are the developments to read:

Economists warn against excessive expectations regarding Trump's foreign and trade policy after the Democrats' victory. more

For technical reasons, the first part of the midterm live blog ends here. Here are the developments to read:

The US Department of Justice is sending numerous election observers to all states. more