Political News
Reports on political developments, legislation, and leadership. The Daily Signal provides news and conservative analysis of American politics.
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exclusive
EXCLUSIVE: White House Finalizes Policy to Lower Healthcare Costs
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—President Donald Trump finalized new Medicare policies to lower costs by more than $1 billion next year for seniors, an administration official told the Daily Signal. “Next year, America’s seniors will save over $1 billion on high-cost drugs, like infusions to treat cancer, and over $2 billion over the next decade… -
news
Socialists Gain Ground in Congress, Setting Up Fight Over Democratic Agenda
Democratic Socialists of America are celebrating over 50 wins from Tuesday night’s midterm elections. With some races yet to be called, there will be at least five new socialists entering the House of Representatives and one entering the Senate for the 120th Congress. “Over 50 DSA victories tonight prove socialism can win in the U.S…. -
analysis
The ‘Becerra Era’: A New Governor, and the California That Could Have Been
Summary “You have now entered the Becerra Era,” declared California Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra in his victory speech Tuesday night. But for the nearly 3 million Californians who cast their ballots for Republican Steve Hilton, hopes for a different direction for the Golden State have faded as another Democrat administration prepares to take office. So, what… -
news
‘The Country’s Gonna Pay’: Congressman Weighs Why Trump’s Midterm Strategy Didn’t Work
Some Republicans are pointing fingers at President Donald Trump after his 32-day midterm blitz failed to save GOP majorities in Congress. “This was a complete repudiation of Trumpism,” one GOP strategist told the Daily Signal. “When you lose literally everything, there is no one else to blame. Trumpism expired, and conservatives need to start rebuilding… -
analysis
Did Socialists Just Lose Some of Their Expected Leverage in Congress?
The Democratic Socialists of America emerged from the 2026 midterms significantly stronger, but in a strange twist, the Democratic Party’s overwhelming success may deprive the DSA’s seven House members of the leverage they expected to wield. The DSA expanded its congressional footprint, helped elect allies at the state and local levels, and can point to… -
opinion
The Socialists Won More Than Just Elections on Tuesday
Summary Five new candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America won House seats Tuesday. Together with reelected Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., that brings the number of DSA-backed members in the next House of Representatives, as of this writing, to at least seven. This marks a significant expansion for a movement… -
news
‘Everyone Knows Why We Lost’: Vance Blames Iran War for Blue Wave
Vice President JD Vance blamed the Iran war for 2026 Democrat victories Wednesday in a blunt post on X. “The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,” stated Vance, who, at this point, is the presumed front-runner for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination. “If you’d like to argue it… -
opinion
Victor Davis Hanson: Why Midterm Losses Won’t Stop Trump
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words” from Daily Signal senior contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to Hanson’s own YouTube channel to watch past episodes. This episode was recorded before Tuesday night’s election results. Jack Fowler: Well, Victor, as much as people are consumed with domestic elections, we… -
news
Voters Punish GOP Over Economy, but Democrats May Still Have a Problem, Exit Polls Find
Summary Voters were more dissatisfied with the state of the economy in 2026 than they were in 2024, according to exit polling. While punishing the party in power was the antidote to that on Tuesday, most voters said they didn’t necessarily trust Democrats to handle key issues more than Republicans, as both parties had low… -
news
Mike Johnson’s Departure From GOP Leadership Sets Up Battle for Succession
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, took himself out of the race for minority leader on Wednesday, kicking off a battle within Congress for the coveted seat. Johnson announced his decision this morning, just hours after the House and the Senate were called for Democrats, on a call with his staff, the source told the… -
news
Why Voters Backed Democrats in Midterm Blowout
About three-quarters of voters said the Iran war was a crucial factor in which candidate they supported in the 2026 midterm elections, according to an NBC exit poll. Among the 74% of voters who said the Iran war was a crucial factor, 62% voted Democrat and 35% voted Republican. President Donald Trump’s operation in Iran… -
news
AI Fears Emerge as Winning Issue for Democrats
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Americans’ growing fears about artificial intelligence followed them to the polls Tuesday and spread across party lines. Seventy-six percent of voters reject building data centers in their local community, and 43% do not trust either party to tackle AI, according to early CNN exit poll results. These findings reflect similar results from… -
news
Big Night for Democrats Hides Conservatives’ Victories on Ballot Measures
On the same night voters delivered a blue wave and expanded abortion rights, conservatives saw some victories on ballot measures regarding election integrity and protecting women’s sports. Any hopes of passing the SAVE America Act disappeared with the new congressional majority. However, voters in multiple states approved measures to ensure that only citizens vote and… -
news
Trump’s Explanation for Midterm Blue Wave
President Donald Trump blamed the candidates and the Iran war for the massive Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections. “They didn’t like the candidates, and some of the candidates that I endorsed fought me, and they didn’t like it,” he said in a late-night Fox Business interview. “This MAGA base is incredible, the most… -
news
Elon Musk’s Business Empire Braces for Democrat Wave as Texas Flips Blue
Nov. 4 (Reuters)—As Republicans suffered a landslide defeat and Texas elected its first Democrat governor in more than three decades, one of the biggest losers of the U.S. midterms was not on the ballot: billionaire Elon Musk. The world’s richest man spent nearly half a billion dollars to back Republican candidates and keep Texas red—a… -
news
Democrats Gain 2 House Seats in Virginia, Easily Retain Senate Seat
Democrats apparently flipped two of Virginia’s 11 House seats, adding them to the nationwide blue wave. The slate featured a mix of easy-to-call races with some nail-biters, as counting stretched into the night. In the 1st District, Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor declared victory in her race against Republican 10-term incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman…. -
news
Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Race
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed will defeat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s closely watched U.S. Senate race Tuesday, projects Decision Desk. The candidates competed for an open seat after Democrat Sen. Gary Peters announced last year he would not run for reelection. El-Sayed, a Michigan native who will become the first Muslim member of the U.S. Senate,… -
breaking
Maine Gets New Senate Leadership as Jackson Overthrows Collins
Maine Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Sen. Susan Collins in one of the nation’s most closely watched midterm races, claiming a Senate seat she held for nearly 30 years. Decision Desk HQ projected Jackson as the winner at 1:10 a.m. EST, with 76% of the vote in and Jackson leading Collins with 53% of the vote… -
opinion
Winners and Losers From the 2026 Midterms
There’s no sugar-coating it: Republicans lost badly in the 2026 midterms, suffering stunning defeats in states once considered reliably red and seeing Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress. President Donald Trump encouraged Americans to vote like he was on the ballot, and many may have done so. Democratic socialists and a resurgent religious… -
news
California Stays Blue: Biden’s Former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra Wins Governor’s Race
Summary California will remain under Democrat leadership for another four years, as former Biden administration official Xavier Becerra has defeated Republican Steve Hilton in the race for governor. Decision Desk HQ called the race for Becerra at 11:13 p.m. EST, with Becerra leading Hilton by 64.6% to 35.6%. The result was expected, as the latest…