A Democratic breakthrough in the mid-term elections and a ‘punishment’ vote against Donald Trump were certainly expected, but not on such a scale. A blue wave swept across the United States, and the Democrats secured an absolute majority in both houses of Congress: the House of Representatives (228 seats out of 235) and the Senate (54 seats out of 100). Some historically Republican states swung the other way against all expectations, including in the election of their governors, such as Texas and Georgia. The most radical wing of the Democratic Party has also made significant gains, with Abdul El-Sayed’s notable victory in the Michigan Senate by-election.

The wars waged by Donald Trump, inflation, inequality and the violence perpetrated by ICE… largely explain this Democratic landslide. The President, more unpopular than ever, has been forced to concede defeat. He now has only his veto power to govern in the face of an opposition-controlled Congress, although his capacity to cause disruption remains for the next two years of his term.

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