Republicans face projected losses in US midterms as voters weigh the economy and the Iran war

Summary

Republicans are bracing for losses in the US midterm elections amid a backlash to the president's economic leadership and the Iran war, according to the New York Times, which says whether the party gives up control of the Senate is the biggest question of Tuesday's vote. NDTV reports that the elections are being read as a nationwide verdict on Trump's turbulent second term, with discontent over living costs, tariffs and the US war against Iran weighing on Republicans while his approval ratings languish near record lows. NDTV also reports Trump's first reaction to the projected losses, which its headline gives as "We would have won if I was on the ballot."

Timeline

1. New York Times

   3 Nov 2026, 10:02 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that Republicans are bracing for losses amid a backlash to the president's economic leadership and the Iran war, and that whether they give up Senate control is the biggest question of Tuesday's vote.

2. NDTV

   4 Nov 2026, 06:09 UTCSource ↗

   NDTV reports that the elections were a nationwide verdict on Trump's turbulent second term, with discontent over living costs, tariffs and the US war against Iran weighing on Republicans as his approval ratings languish near record lows, and headlines Trump's reaction as "We would have won if I was on the ballot."