4 pivotal elections around the world that will pose a test to democracy in 2026 |
Amid increasing polarisation, disinformation and economic anxieties, the health of representative democracies will be tested in elections across all continents in 2026.
There are four pivotal elections that will either reinforce democratic norms or risk further eroding confidence in free and fair processes.
Scheduled for November 3, the US midterm elections will see all 435 seats in the House of Representatives up for grabs, as well as a third of the 100 Senate seats.
Historically, the party controlling the White House tends to lose ground in the midterms. This makes the 2026 elections a high-stakes moment for President Donald Trump. Current polling indicates the Republicans could lose control of the House and see their Senate majority winnowed down to two or three seats.
Trump has taken advantage of a pliant Congress to pass his legislation (such as the “big, beautiful bill”), get his judicial appointments approved and escape the usual oversight of his executive branch.
So, if Trump loses one or both chambers, it will likely lead to legislative gridlock. And, if the first Trump administration........