The 100 United States senators (two per state) are elected by direct universal suffrage for six years. But not all at the same time.
Indeed, the Senate is renewed by thirds: every two years, at the beginning of November, a third of the 100 senators put their seats back into play.
A state never renews its two senators in the same election, unless a by-election to fill a vacant seat takes place on the same day as the regular election for the other seat. Typically, it's one seat after another.
Example: this November 3, 2026, Texas votes for the seat of John Cornyn, who was elected in 2020, but Ted Cruz, elected in 2024, still has four years in office. In California, no senatorial election: Adam Schiff's seat will be renewed in 2030, and that of Alex Padilla in 2028.
The two seats of the same state being independent of each other, there can absolutely be a Democratic senator and a Republican senator.
But in reality, it is rare. In the current legislature, only two states have a Democratic senator and a Republican senator: Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Two others combine different labels: Maine, with a Republican and an independent, and Vermont, with a Democrat and an independent. The two independents concerned, Angus King and Bernie Sanders, however, sit with the Democrats.
Donald Trump, future prime minister of Israel? This is what the American president suggested this Tuesday, in a telephone interview with the Fox News channel. The tenant of the White House had just highlighted the good popularity rating he enjoys in Israel, due to the war his country is waging against Iran. “I have a 99% popularity rate in Israel, you realize,” he said. And continued, in a humorous tone: “If the Americans ever got tired of me, I would move to Israel and become prime minister.”
Americans are called to the polls this Tuesday during crucial mid-term elections, serving as a referendum on the tenant of the White House. The Democrats hope to win a double majority in Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) and thus limit the action of the man who has been upsetting all the political codes of the United States for ten years.
Whether the majority changes sides or not, there will be an election anyway. Legislatures last two years, and each new legislature leads to the election of the president of the House of Representatives, or “speaker”. The current term, the 119th United States Congress, ends at noon Washington time on January 3, 2027. The 120th will then begin.
The new Congress should in principle meet on that day, January 3. It is during this first meeting that the election of the “speaker” will be held. On January 3, each party will present a candidate. The person who obtains more than half of the votes cast will be elected.
Polling stations in Westchester County, New York, are experiencing malfunctions. “We have been told that no machines are accepting ballots at this time,” a spokesperson for a Republican representative told CNN. According to him, the problem concerns “the entire county”.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James has been informed of the issue. “My office is closely monitoring the scanner issue in Westchester County and is in contact with the state and county election commissions, who are seeking a solution,” she said in a post on X.
For now, voters in this county, located just north of New York, are asked to fill out their ballots, which are then placed in a substitute orange bag to be counted later in the day. “Westchester County voters can still fill out their ballot and drop it off securely at their polling place. Your vote will count,” assured the Attorney General of the State of New York.
The former US president returned to the campaign to support Democratic candidates in the mid-term elections. “Get involved and help Democrats win one of the most decisive elections in our country’s history. Because the most powerful function in this country has always been that of citizen,” he said in a video posted on the Democratic Party’s X account.
California Governor Gavin Newsom released a video on Monday, November 2, where he warned that anyone who interferes with voters or falsifies ballots in California faces criminal prosecution.
The rising cost of living will be top of mind for Americans when they go to the polls Tuesday in the midterm elections, which will determine the makeup of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, around 48% of registered voters surveyed say the cost of living is the main issue that will determine their vote choice, compared to 26% who cite democratic norms and 13% who mention immigration.
Fuel prices in the United States have soared since the Middle East conflict began in February.
