The 2026 US midterm elections have delivered a series of historic victories, with Black, Indigenous, Latina and LGBTQ candidates breaking long-standing barriers in American politics. Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor of the United States, winning in Georgia. Deb Haaland made history as the first Native American woman elected governor, while Gina Hinojosa became Texas' first Latina governor. In the Senate, Peggy Flanagan became the first Native American woman elected to the chamber, while Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected senator. Abdul El-Sayed also became the first Muslim American elected to the Senate. (PC: X)

Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has won a fifth consecutive term in the US House of Representatives, defeating Republican candidate John Nagel in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Omar, who has represented the Minneapolis-based constituency since 2019, secured the victory despite facing criticism from President Donald Trump and an ongoing federal investigation involving her immigration records. Reacting to the result, Omar thanked voters and said, “We will not allow Trump to silence us.” Her re-election comes as Democrats make major gains in the 2026 US midterm elections, with the party projected to regain control of Congress. (PC: X)

India is closely watching Washington after Democrats secured control of both chambers of the US Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. The results could affect key issues in India-US relations, including trade negotiations, tariffs, Russian oil purchases and H-1B visas. A Democratic-controlled Congress may increase scrutiny of President Donald Trump's policies through investigations and legislative oversight. However, the victory will not automatically reverse existing tariffs or immigration restrictions, as Trump retains significant executive powers. India will also be watching developments in defence and technology cooperation as it seeks stability in its relationship with Washington. (PC: X)

Billionaire Elon Musk has mocked his own election spending after Democratic candidates secured major victories in the 2026 US midterm elections. Taking to X on Wednesday, Musk wrote, “Guess my election-interfering space lasers didn’t work this time.” He also joked that “data centers in space” were looking appealing. Musk reportedly contributed around $250 million to support Republican candidates during the election cycle. However, Republicans suffered major defeats, including in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Senate race. The results mark a setback for Musk's efforts to influence American politics through financial support for Republican campaigns. (PC: Economic Times)

Indian-origin Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has lost the Ohio governor's race to Democrat Amy Acton in a major setback for President Donald Trump's party. Acton becomes the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office in 20 years. The former state health director focused her campaign on reducing living costs and improving healthcare access. Ramaswamy, who received Trump's backing, faced criticism over a controversial campaign advertisement targeting Acton's personal history. Despite heavy spending by Ramaswamy and his allies, Acton secured victory, ending years of Republican control of the governor's office. (PC: NDTV)

Democrat James Talarico has defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas, becoming the first Democrat to win a US Senate seat in the state since 1988. The victory marks a major setback for Republicans in the traditionally conservative state and strengthens Democratic control of Congress. Talarico, a former schoolteacher and state legislator, focused his campaign on rising living costs and criticism of Republican policies. Paxton, who received strong support from President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, faced several political controversies. Talarico celebrated the result at a gathering in Austin, declaring, “We just took back Texas.” (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the war with Iran contributed to the Republican Party’s poor performance in the 2026 midterm elections. Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Trump said Iran was partly responsible for the losses but defended his military campaign, arguing that preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons was more important. He also expressed surprise at the election results, saying he had expected Republicans to perform better. Democrats secured control of both the Senate and House of Representatives, dealing a major blow to Trump. Rising fuel prices and concerns over the cost of living emerged as key election issues. (PC: HT)

Democrats have made major gains in the 2026 US midterm elections, winning Senate seats across traditionally Republican states and regaining control of both chambers of Congress. Victories in Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maine marked a major setback for President Donald Trump’s party. In Texas, James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton, while Troy Jackson unseated longtime Maine Senator Susan Collins. Rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war, inflation and economic concerns emerged as key election issues. Trump defended his policies but admitted voters were unhappy with higher petrol costs. The results leave his final two years politically challenging. (PC: News18)

A possible US nuclear strike on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain facility could have consequences beyond the Middle East, with radioactive fallout potentially reaching parts of northwestern India, experts have warned. The facility, located in Iran's Isfahan province, is around 2,500 km from India and is believed to be buried deep inside a mountain. US President Donald Trump has threatened to target the site, while commentator Tucker Carlson has claimed Washington could consider a nuclear strike. However, the claims remain unverified. Experts say the spread of radioactive particles would depend on the weapon's strength, weather conditions and wind direction. (PC: India Today)

Iran’s Embassy in India has mocked US President Donald Trump following his Republican Party’s major setback in the 2026 US midterm elections. The embassy shared a meme on X showing 2 people throwing Trump into a dustbin marked ‘Hazardous Waste’. The post carried the caption, “The U.S. midterm elections”, taking a dig at the Republican defeat. The meme came after Democrats made major gains in the November 3 elections, securing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Iran has also criticised Trump’s policies, claiming American voters rejected the war with Iran and rising living costs.