Politics – Elections, Policy & Leaders

Democrat James Talarico Wins Senate Race in Texas, First in State Since 1988

James Talarico, a former schoolteacher and state legislator, has defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race in Texas, according to projections from multiple outlets. This is the first time a Democrat has won a Senate seat in Texas since 1988, a historic upset that has helped Democrats move closer to securing control of the U.S. Senate. At a watch party in Austin, supporters celebrated with hugs, kisses, and cheers as the result became clear.

Technical issues reported at polling locations during US midterm elections

A handful of polling locations across the United States have reported technical issues with how ballots are cast during the midterm elections, causing officials to delay the closing time for polls so votes can be cast, according to Al Jazeera.

Supreme Court rejects Trump’s request to stop California counting disputed votes

The US Supreme Court has rejected a last-minute request by the Trump administration asking it to intervene in California's midterm election vote count, according to the BBC.

Michigan Congresswoman Endorses Republican Senate Rival

Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens stunned party officials on Sunday by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers in the U.S. Senate race after attending a church service with him in Detroit. The move came after she was uninvited from a joint event with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, the candidate she narrowly lost to in August’s primary. “Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away,” Stevens said in a video announcing her endorsement. “And he’s right. And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today.”

Judge Dismisses Trump’s Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Letter

A U.S. federal judge in Miami on Saturday dismissed with prejudice President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over a 2025 article reporting on a sexually suggestive letter allegedly sent by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump had again failed to show that the defendants acted with “actual malice,” a legal standard required for defamation claims by public figures. “The Amended Complaint falls short of pleading actual malice,” Gayles wrote. “Indeed, the allegations regarding malice are conclusory, vague, sometimes inconsistent with the Article and often irrelevant to whether Defendants knew or should have known that the statements in the Article were purportedly false.”

Bolsonaro Arrives in U.S. and Declares Himself Brazil’s “True President”

Flávio Bolsonaro, Brazil’s defeated right-wing presidential candidate, declared himself the “true president” of Brazil after arriving in Miami, Florida, on October 28, 2026, following a clandestine journey from Argentina with a stop in Ecuador. The far-right senator, who lost the October 25 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, issued the claim in a letter hours after landing with his wife and two teenage daughters. He later revised the statement, replacing “true president” with “the leader of Brazil.” In the letter, he thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, for their support.

Israel Election Ends in Deadlock, No Bloc Near Majority

Israel’s October 27 election ended in a political stalemate, with exit polls showing neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, securing the 61 seats needed to form a majority government. Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to win 50 seats, while Eisenkot’s opposition bloc took 52 to 53, according to multiple Israeli media outlets. Arab parties, including the Joint List and Raam, were projected to win 17 to 18 seats combined, their strongest showing in Israeli history.

Macron Promises Measures to Address French Protests Amid Rising Unrest

French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that his government would introduce “concrete measures” to address student and public demands over education, living costs, and inequality, following weeks of nationwide protests marked by violence and unrest. “I have asked the government to respond to the legitimate demands that lie at the root of this social movement,” he said during a visit to Marseille, where he inspected damage from earlier demonstrations.

Serbia’s Vucic Concedes Election to Student-Led Movement

Serbia’s long-serving leader Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat on Sunday to a student-led opposition movement in a snap parliamentary election that marked a seismic political shift. Vucic, whose Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) had dominated Serbian politics for 14 years, said his opponents in the Students’ List were projected to win between 135 and 140 of the 250 parliamentary seats. “The Students’ List has won,” Vucic said at his party’s election night event, though he blamed “independent media,” “unnamed European countries,” and an “American deep state” for the loss.

Lula da Silva Wins Fourth Term as Brazil’s President

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth non-consecutive term as Brazil’s president, defeating Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in a runoff election with 51.8% of the valid votes, according to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court. It is the first time since 1989 that a candidate has won the final round after losing the first. Lula, 80, will serve from 2027 to 2030.

Bulgaria’s presidential election heads to runoff after record-low turnout

Bulgaria’s presidential election will go to a runoff on November 1 after no candidate won a majority and turnout fell to a record low of under 40%. Exit polls showed incumbent President Iliana Yotova with 35–47% of the vote, and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov with 28–33.5%. The vote was held amid rising economic hardship, inflation, and drone attacks on Black Sea shipping that killed at least two dozen international seafarers. The government said the attacks “benefit Russia,” but has not directly blamed Moscow. Both candidates condemned the strikes and called for stronger maritime security, with Bulgaria seeking assistance from its allies.

Brazilians vote in presidential election as Lula and Bolsonaro face off in runoff

Brazilians cast ballots in a closely contested presidential election runoff pitting leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro. The race, according to The Guardian, is considered one of the most unpredictable in the country’s history.

U.S. Judge Orders Trump to Answer Questions Under Oath in BBC Lawsuit

A U.S. judge has ordered former President Donald Trump to answer questions under oath in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC by 11 December, according to court records. Trump’s legal team previously canceled a scheduled deposition in October, citing 'matters of national importance.'

Alberta Voters Reject Path to Independence, Backing National Unity

EDMONTON — Voters in Alberta, Canada, overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to begin a process toward independence, with 76% supporting continued membership in Canada and 24% backing the separation path, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta.

Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Killer Nidal Hasan

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday approved the execution of former Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan by U.S. Army firing squad, following a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.