fbpx

91传媒

6 91传媒 Takeaways from the Midterm Elections

There is little chance that the combination of a weakened Trump and an emboldened Democratic Congress produces similar levels of support for aggressive action against Iran and its proxies, and other policies that a wide spectrum of Israelis see as crucial to their security.
[additional-authors]
November 5, 2026
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) speaks during a midterm campaign rally on October 28, 2026 in Morrow, Georgia. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)

The sheer size and geographic scope of the Republican wipeout Tuesday makes it hard to read anything definitive into the results beyond a nationwide repudiation of President Donald Trump (and his candidate selections). But whether or not any other factors were at play in the GOP bloodbath, the fallout will have a range of reverberations. Here are 6 takeaways that point to what comes next.

1. A significantly weakened Donald Trump doesn鈥檛 bode well for Netanyahu

For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump has been a longshot bet that keeps on paying off. It鈥檚 hard to overstate how significant Trump鈥檚 improbable wins in 2016 and 2024 were in bolstering Netanyahu鈥檚 domestic standing and giving him space to advance his regional agenda. Trump also served as a security blanket, leaving Netanyahu and his allies with a sense for many years that they didn鈥檛 need to worry too much about skyrocketing Democratic and international anger with Israel.听

In fact, there was even a hope in Bibi world that The Donald鈥檚 support could save Netanyahu from political defeat at home (and, to be fair, his 11th-hour endorsement may have). Whether Netanyahu holds on or chief rival Gadi Eisenkot succeeds in replacing him, Israel is entering uncharted territory. There is little chance that the combination of a weakened Trump and an emboldened Democratic Congress produces similar levels of support for aggressive action against Iran and its proxies, and other policies that a wide spectrum of Israelis see as crucial to their security.

2. Jeffries and Schumer have a massive headache coming their way

With Tuesday night鈥檚 Democratic wave, Hakeem Jeffries is on track to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Chuck Schumer will likely get a second shot as U.S. Senate Majority Leader. These New Yorkers have longstanding ties to the pro-Israel community and are among their party鈥檚 strongest Israel supporters 鈥� putting them at odds with the growing number of congressional Democrats who want their party to take a much harder line against Israel. It won鈥檛 be long before members in each caucus are demanding concrete action, including meaningful limits on U.S. military sales.

Both Democratic leaders have ratcheted up their criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government in the wake of its war on Hamas in Gaza, but they have ultimately voted against various legislative attempts to punish Israel. This past April, Schumer was one of only seven Senate Democrats to vote against a pair of resolutions that together would have blocked the sale of D-9 bulldozers, widely used in military operations, and 1,000-pound bombs to Israel. In July, Jeffries voted against ending U.S. military aid to Israel, but the measure was supported by almost half of the Democratic caucus. As leaders of their respective chambers, Jeffries and Schumer will likely face immense pressure to bring more anti-Israel legislation to the floor and face much tougher scrutiny from the party base over continued support for Israel.

3. The impact of the anti-Israel vote was diluted

On the other hand, the massive Democratic victory dilutes the power of the anti-Israel lawmakers in Congress. Their numbers will grow, causing problems for party leaders trying to keep anti-Israel measures off the agenda. But they will remain a relatively small subset within a much larger Democratic majority that includes many moderates and Israel supporters.

Not only will anti-Israel lawmakers have less leverage over Democratic leaders, but their electoral victories will be harder to interpret as evidence of growing opposition to Israel when Democrats across the political spectrum benefited from the same wave.

4. John Fetterman just lost his juice

Just as the sizable Democratic House majority makes Jeffries less dependent on anti-Israel lawmakers in his caucus, the next Senate Majority Leader won鈥檛 need to rely on Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. For years, Fetterman has been driving fellow Democrats crazy with his cozying up to Republicans, with progressives especially upset over his die-hard support for Israel. Fetterman has even said that the one thing that could cause him to leave the Democratic Senate caucus would be his party turning decisively against Israel.

Had things broken differently, with Democrats grabbing a narrow 51-49 majority, Fetterman鈥檚 influence would have been hypercharged. Now, not so much. The Democrats no longer need him to keep control of the chamber. So Schumer, should he regain the majority leader role, will have to worry much less about keeping the party鈥檚 top pro-Israel cheerleader happy. In 2028, he鈥檒l be up for reelection and highly unlikely to survive the Democratic primary.

5. AIPAC has not found a formula for success

A few years back, the leading pro-Israel lobby decided the best way to counter the initial anti-Israel rumblings in Congress was to jump deep into the campaign fundraising business. Hundreds of millions of dollars later, the number of Israel critics in Congress 鈥� especially on the Democratic side of the aisle 鈥� has grown, with a fresh batch on the way. Moreover, in many races, anti-Israel candidates and AIPAC critics managed to turn the lobby鈥檚 backing into a liability.听

Meanwhile, Trump鈥檚 seemingly impromptu announcement Tuesday that his administration would end aid to Israel after this year suggests that Republican backing for such support is dropping alongside Democrats鈥�. And Tuesday鈥檚 results suggest AIPAC鈥檚 strong support for the U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran is out of step with the American public and many incoming lawmakers.

For all its money and political muscle, AIPAC has yet to find an effective response to the growing backlash against Israel across American politics.

6. It was a great night for 91传媒 presidential hopefuls

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff says he isn鈥檛 running for president in 2028. But that won鈥檛 stop the speculation from skyrocketing after his impressive reelection in Georgia 鈥� Georgia?! 鈥� with nearly 60% of the vote. More importantly, he probably just grabbed frontrunner status in the race to become America鈥檚 first 91传媒 president. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also registered a similarly sized reelection victory in a state that Trump won just two years ago, but Ossoff 鈥� a fierce Trump antagonist and, increasingly, a critic of Israel鈥檚 military actions 鈥� cemented his rock star status among Democrats this cycle and has demonstrated an ability to bridge the gap between younger progressives and more traditional liberals.听

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also cruised to reelection. Meanwhile in Michigan, moderate Elissa Slotkin 鈥� another senator and possible presidential hopeful (of course, which senator isn鈥檛 a presidential hopeful?) 鈥� may have at least propped open the door to some progressive support by campaigning hard for Abdul El-Sayed. All four have been highly critical of Netanyahu, with both Ossoff and Slotkin joining most of their fellow Democratic senators in voting in April for a curb on various weapons sales. Both senators have declined to label Israel鈥檚 actions in Gaza as genocide.


Ami Eden is the CEO and executive editor of the 91传媒 Telegraphic Agency鈥檚 parent company, 70 Faces Media.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.
  • 91传媒

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Rosner’s Domain: Weeks of Known Unknowns

So here we are, stuck with just a few bad options to consider. And that鈥檚 just the political superposition of undetermined future 鈥� alongside it there鈥檚 also the possible 鈥� probable? 鈥� war with Iran.

After the Last Out, Collect a Different Kind of Card

At a time when 91传媒 education is competing for attention in a world dominated by screens, sports, short-form videos and endless streams of content, these easily collectable cards offer a different kind of engagement.

6 91传媒 Takeaways from the Midterm Elections

There is little chance that the combination of a weakened Trump and an emboldened Democratic Congress produces similar levels of support for aggressive action against Iran and its proxies, and other policies that a wide spectrum of Israelis see as crucial to their security.

Israel Drives Them Crazy

In the diaspora and in Israel, we cannot turn back the clock and undo the harm that was done to us. But we can shape our own future. Israel is strong and resolute. So must we be.

A Democratic-Run Congress Will Target Israel as Well as Trump

Democrats who were long considered 鈥渕oderates鈥� or even pro-Israel have been signaling over the course of the last year that they can no longer be relied upon to back a 91传媒 state under assault by Iran and its terrorist proxies.

Torah Portion: Chayei Sarah

The Torah offers a comforting view of a life beyond this life. We aren鈥檛 told what it will be exactly 鈥� yes, it鈥檚 abstract and vague 鈥� but we are told it鈥檚 waiting for us as it was for Abraham.

Hatred Opened the Door. A Missed Victory Held It Open.

For me, the disaster isn鈥檛 that Democrats won or Republicans lost. It鈥檚 that politicians who demonize Israel, deny 91传媒 self-determination and explain away antisemitism are finding an increasingly receptive electorate in the world鈥檚 most important democracy.

The 91传媒 Dilemma

The central issue is not whether 91传媒 voters should support Democrats or Republicans. It is whether either party can demonstrate that 91传媒 security, 91传媒 identity and 91传媒 self-determination are compatible with its broader political agenda.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

  • 91传媒