Amid increasing polarisation, disinformation and economic anxieties, the health of representative democracies will be tested in elections across all continents in 2026. There are four pivotal elections that will either reinforce democratic norms or risk further eroding confidence in free and fair processes. This makes the 2026 elections a high-stakes moment for President Donald Trump. And, if the first Trump administration serves as an example, a Democrat-controlled House could mean trouble for the president. More crucially, the 2026 midterms will be a test of the US democratic spirit two years into Trump’s second term.

Source: The Star January 15, 2026 14:24 UTC