Tagesschau Ausland3 hours agoOpinion2 min readGermany

Comment on the midterms: Hopefully they don't screw it up

Democrats rely on a broad range of candidates and credibility instead of Trump puppets

Quick Look

The Republicans failed in the US midterm elections despite over $400 million in campaign aid from Elon Musk.
The Democrats won with a wide range of candidates and conveyed confidence that credibility and concepts matter more than money and good relationships.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The Republicans wanted to prevent the worst in the midterm elections and relied on candidates who liked Donald Trump. More than $400 million in campaign aid from Elon Musk alone was not enough because there was a lack of good candidates. The Democrats brought a wide range of candidates into the race and conveyed confidence for Washington.

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Lots of Trump, lots of money, little content: This was the recipe the Republicans used to try to prevent the worst in these midterm elections, and they failed to the max.

Even more than $400 million in campaign aid from Elon Musk alone is of no use if you don't have any good candidates. The main thing is that they like Donald Trump - that was the motto when choosing their faces. During the election campaign, the president mostly praised their appearance and his policies. Furthermore, there was little reason for Republicans to vote this time.

Trump puppets had nothing to report

The Democrats did it more cleverly and brought bandwidth to the start: the brash trade unionist for the state of Maine. The weatherproof firearm collector for Alaska. The Methodist preacher in Kansas, the child psychologist with Native American roots in Minnesota. The left-wing Muslim doctor for Michigan and in Texas a pious, coiffed young teacher who many here already consider to be the greatest talent since Kennedy. Ambitious, quick-witted, close to the people and politically flexible - the interchangeable Trump puppets had nothing to say against the assembled vibe of these Democrats.

None of the now successful Democrats will independently end the wars in the Middle East or Ukraine. None of them can lower the price of gasoline, raise wages or finally fix the broken health insurance system on their own.

But they were able to convey confidence that things would be better in Washington with them than without them. And that is good news for everyone who still has faith in democracy, that it is not only guided by money and good relationships, but that credibility and concepts also play a role.

If the Democrats play it smart, they can at least negotiate a few of these with Trump before the next shutdown looms on the horizon. Because Parliament and the President are blocking each other or the Democrats are tearing themselves apart in the battle for the next presidential candidacy.

Millions of Americans once again put a spark of hope in their representatives yesterday. Hopefully they don't screw it up.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

Democrats will try to negotiate with Trump before the next shutdown.
Likely · Within weeks
The Democrats will tear themselves apart in the battle for the next presidential nomination.
Possible · Within months

Open Questions

Which specific seats did the Democrats win?
What was the overall voter turnout?
What specific negotiations are the Democrats planning with Trump before the next shutdown?