By Awni Al-Daoud
Most public opinion polls in the United States had predicted that the Democrats would gain several seats and the Republicans would lose some. However, no one anticipated such a “sweeping” victory for the Democrats or such a crushing defeat for the Republicans. In fact, this Democratic triumph marks only the third time since the end of World War II that one of the two major parties has managed to win both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the same midterm election.
Ever since the final results began to emerge, various analyses, articles, and commentaries sought to explain the reasons behind the Democratic victory and the Republican defeat. They point out that, ever since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran last February, most American polls indicated that a broad segment of the American public does not view this conflict as one necessitated by US national security interests. Instead, they see it as a war that the US President and the Israeli Prime Minister chose to wage based solely on their own personal preferences.
Therefore, regardless of all the analyses that have been—or have yet to be—published, if we truly wish to uncover the real reasons for the Republicans’ defeat in these midterm elections, we must first “look for Israel!” – This is not merely a personal opinion; rather, the evidence confirms the following:
1 – First, these midterm elections may be unique in that American voters based their decisions—at least in part—on foreign policy issues. A primary point of contention was foreign policy—specifically, the war on Iran and its resulting economic consequences—which have directly impacted the livelihoods of American citizens in the following ways:
a) Americans are feeling the direct, negative effects of this war through fuel prices, which have risen by approximately 50% compared to their levels before the conflict began.
b) In many American cities, people rely heavily on their own vehicles for transportation and commuting to work.
c) The impact of rising fuel prices is not limited to individual travel; it also extends to the agricultural sector. Large-scale farms depend on fuel and fertilizers for production, which has been a significant factor in the Republicans’ defeat across rural America.
2 – Criticisms regarding the pursuit of wars—rather than ending them, as President Trump had promised—specifically concerning Gaza and Iran (and Israel’s pivotal role in drawing the United States into these conflicts), are seen by observers as having significantly contributed to the victories of many Democratic candidates. These candidates capitalized on the negative economic repercussions and their direct impact on the livelihoods of American citizens. Evidence of this includes:
a) – The historic, sweeping victory of candidate Abdul El-Sayed (Abdel Rahman Mohamed El-Sayed), the son of Egyptian immigrants. His win—securing a seat in the Michigan State Senate—made him the first Muslim ever elected to that body in U.S. history. Throughout his campaign, El-Sayed focused on healthcare and economic justice, while also criticizing US support for Israel and the war in Gaza. He frequently argued that American taxpayer dollars are being used by a foreign government to fund a “genocide” in the Gaza Strip, and that prioritizing foreign military aid at the expense of urgent domestic issues is a serious problem. This specific issue—foreign aid—prompted President Trump to announce, on the morning of the election, that aid payments to Israel would cease by the end of the year.
b) – In New Jersey, Adam Hamwy won a seat in the House of Representatives, becoming the first Muslim and the first Arab American to represent the state in the U.S. Congress. A plastic surgeon of Egyptian descent and a former US Army officer who served in Iraq, Hamwy gained national prominence after participating in medical missions inside Gaza during the war. He made his human experience in the [Gaza] Strip a central pillar of his election campaign; he also called for an end to military aid to Israel and criticized the prospect of a war with Iran.
c) Darializa Avila Chevalier, who won the seat for New York’s 13th District—her political background suggests that her experience in the West Bank and her involvement in pro-Palestinian student activism played a key role in shaping her political stances.
In summary:
1 – The biggest loser in these midterm elections is Benjamin Netanyahu. He has lost the Republicans’ ability to provide him with unconditional support—having already alienated the Democrats by turning his back on them in recent years and betting exclusively on Trump. This loss compounds the diminishing prospects of him forming an Israeli government following the results of the most recent Israeli elections.
2 – The results demonstrate that the image of Israel as a “pampered” state—enjoying a sense of immunity among Americans—has shifted; the situation in Gaza and regional conflicts have altered the sympathies of the American public.
3 – The election results will have a significant impact within the United States, globally, and certainly on our own region. The occupant of the White House—despite retaining veto power—has now entered a “lame duck” phase, and will no longer be able to continue providing the same level of unconditional support to Israel as seen over the past two years.
Awni Al-Daoud wrote this column in the Arabic Ad Dustour as one of the editors of this nation-wide newspaper in Jordan. Here it appears in translated form in Crossfirearabia.com
5 November 2026
Source: countercurrents.org