Wednesday, Nov 4, 2026
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Democrats won control of both the House and Senate
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, delivering a sharp rebuke to Donald Trump and Republicans. CNBC said the victory gives Democrats a check on Trump’s agenda and greater power to intensify congressional oversight. Reuters reported that Trump would accept the results; his veto power will limit what legislation Democrats can pass.
Reporting: PBS News (with Associated Press), Al Jazeera, CNBC, Reuters, politicstoday.org, mprnews.org
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Russian forces struck Ukraine’s energy facilities ahead of Abu Dhabi talks
Ukraine’s national power company reported more than 20 Russian strikes on energy facilities in 24 hours, prompting emergency power cuts in several regions. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said damage to an energy hub disrupted water supplies and electric public transport in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched 365 drones and missiles; U.S.-mediated talks are set for Nov. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi.
Reporting: Reuters, China Global Television Network, PBS News, AOL
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North Korea launched multiple missiles toward the sea, South Korea said
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected several missiles launched Wednesday from North Korea’s Sondok area toward the East Sea. South Korean and U.S. authorities were analyzing the launches. The launches came hours after Pyongyang said it saw no need to resume diplomacy with Washington, protesting accusations linking North Korean hackers to the Binance heist.
Reporting: The Nightly, Killeen Daily Herald, The Japan Times
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CVS Health plans to split its retail pharmacy business from its insurance and pharmacy-benefit operations
CVS Health said Wednesday it plans to separate its retail pharmacy business from its insurance and pharmacy-benefit operations, making its drugstores a standalone company called CVS Pharmacy. The Wall Street Journal reported the breakup is planned for the first half of 2028. Aetna and Caremark would remain together, according to NAI 500, reversing the 2018 combination that helped build CVS’s integrated healthcare business.
Reporting: Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, nai500.com, stocktitan.net
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Spain’s transport minister resigned days after a train collision that killed at least 69 people
Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, resigned Tuesday, six days after a collision between two high-speed trains near Urda in Toledo province killed 69 people. Puente also withdrew from the Socialist Party’s candidate lists for the Nov. 29 snap general election. The collision was Spain’s second major train crash in less than a year.
Reporting: Arise News, Al Jazeera, CNN, mercopress.com, plataformamedia.com, thetimes.com
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Donald Trump confirmed U.S. strikes on an Iranian island near Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that strikes had been launched on an Iranian island near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran called the U.S. response to seven conditions for reopening the waterway “unconvincing,” saying Washington must address and act on them. Qatar stepped up diplomacy, while U.S. media, citing officials, reported Central Command prepared plans for strikes that could begin Wednesday, after elections.
Reporting: Al Jazeera
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Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine
Democrat Troy Jackson, a former Maine state Senate president, defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins, ending her nearly 30-year Senate tenure. Collins conceded Tuesday night before the Associated Press called the race. Jackson entered in late July after former Democratic nominee Graham Platner withdrew following an ex-girlfriend’s sexual-assault allegation, which Platner denies. The victory helps Democrats pursue a Senate majority.
Reporting: National Public Radio, BBC News, Axios, wgme.com, mainepublic.org, 19thnews.org
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Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race
Texas state Representative James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general, to win the Senate seat, marking the first Democratic Senate victory in Texas since 1988. The Associated Press declared Talarico the winner at 11:03 p.m. EST. The BBC said the victory helped solidify Democrats’ full control of Congress.
Reporting: Time, CBS News, BBC News, PBS News, 19thnews.org
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Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott in the Texas race for governor
Democratic state representative Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to win Texas’ governorship, ending decades of Republican control, the Associated Press reported. The AP said Hinojosa will be the state’s first Latina governor; KPRC said she is its first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995.
Reporting: KPRC 2 Click2Houston, Bloomberg, Associated Press, motherjones.com
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Former Sen. Sherrod Brown defeated Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio's Senate race
Former Sen. Sherrod Brown defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio, flipping the seat to Democrats, CBS News and NBC News projected. Brown will return to the Senate for the remaining two years of the term JD Vance won in 2022. KCRA reported more than $500 million in spending by both sides and their allies.
Reporting: CBS News, KCRA 3 Sacramento, NBC News, Facebook
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Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley in North Carolina's Senate race
Democrat Roy Cooper, a former North Carolina governor, defeated former Republican National Committee former Chairman Michael Whatley in the state’s Senate race, CBS News and NBC News projected. Cooper will succeed outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who did not seek a third term. The victory flips the seat to Democrats; the state last elected a Democratic senator in 2008.
Reporting: NBC News, CBS News, BBC News, Axios, dukechronicle.com
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Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's open Senate race
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and former public health official, won Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat over Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent, according to projections from NBC News and the Associated Press. He becomes the first Muslim elected to the Senate and will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
Reporting: Time, Axios, France 24, NBC News, National Public Radio
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Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia's governorship
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, won Georgia’s governor’s race Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state. She defeated Republican billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, returning the office to Democrats after more than two decades of Republican control. All 83 of Georgia’s previous governors were white men. Bottoms said she would govern for everyone in the state.
Reporting: France 24, astroawani.com, sarawaktribune.com, awazthevoice.in
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Deb Haaland won New Mexico's governorship
Democrat Deb Haaland, a former secretary of the Interior under Joe Biden, won New Mexico’s governor’s race, becoming the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history. She defeated Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor. Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo citizen, told supporters Native Americans remain despite past federal efforts to strip them of their languages and culture.
Reporting: France 24, agamirsomoy.com
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Democrat Amy Acton won the Ohio governor’s race
Democrat Amy Acton, a physician and former director of Ohio’s Department of Health, won the governor’s race, CBS News and NBC News projected, defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton is the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office since Ted Strickland in 2006. Ramaswamy conceded and said he was “rooting” for Acton and Ohio.
Reporting: NBC News, BBC News, Time, CBS News, motherjones.com
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Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek defeated Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa's Senate race
Democratic state representative Josh Turek defeated Republican Representative Ashley Hinson in Iowa’s open Senate race, flipping the seat for Democrats, according to election projections. The pickup was crucial to Democrats’ bid for Senate control; NBC News reported the party needed a net gain of at least four seats. Donald Trump carried Iowa by 13 percentage points in 2024.
Reporting: CBS News, The New York Times, NBC News, YouTube, Reuters
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Democrat Annie Andrews won South Carolina's U.S. Senate race
Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, won South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race Tuesday, defeating appointed Republican Sen. Darline Graham in a major upset. The Associated Press called the race with 93% of votes counted; Andrews had 50.6% to Graham’s 47.2%. Andrews is the first woman elected to the Senate in South Carolina and the state’s first Democratic senator since 1998.
Reporting: NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston Public Media, National Public Radio, CBS News, Time, PBS News, 19thnews.org, scdailygazette.com
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Adam Hamilton ousted Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in a Kansas Senate race
Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, a Kansas City-area pastor, defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas’s U.S. Senate race, flipping the country’s longest-held Republican Senate seat. Hamilton’s victory makes him the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas since 1932, ending a 94-year streak and giving Democrats an unexpected pickup in their effort to gain control of the chamber.
Reporting: KSHB 41 Kansas City, Scripps News, CBS News, Axios, kansascity.com, kansasreflector.com
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Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida's governor's race
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds won Florida’s governor’s race Tuesday, defeating Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties. Donalds will become Florida’s first Black governor and the nation’s first elected Black Republican governor, according to Stateline. He will succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis and take office Jan. 5. Trump endorsed Donalds.
Reporting: NBC News, ABC7 News, PBS News, BBC News, caribbeannationalweekly.com, firstcoastnews.com, wusf.org, stateline.org
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Democrat Jocelyn Benson won Michigan's governor's race
Democrat Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s secretary of state since 2019, won the state’s governor’s race Tuesday, defeating Republican Rep. John James, according to election projections. Benson will succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Jan. 1, 2027, extending Democratic control of the governor’s office for another four years.
Reporting: NBC News, 13abc WTVG Toledo, WDIV ClickOnDetroit, wemu.org, wkar.org, fox2detroit.com, easternecho.com
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Amy Klobuchar won Minnesota's governor's race to become the state's first female governor
Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar won Minnesota’s governor’s race Tuesday, becoming the state’s first woman elected governor, according to the Associated Press. She defeated Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and will succeed outgoing Gov. Tim Walz. Klobuchar must resign from the Senate; state law calls for the governor to appoint a temporary replacement until a special election.
Reporting: The Hill, Axios, Minnesota Star Tribune, CBS News, KARE 11 Minneapolis, albertleatribune.com, minnesotareformer.com, mprnews.org
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Aaron Ford defeated Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo in Nevada's governor's race
Democratic Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford defeated Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, according to an Associated Press race call, shifting control of the governorship. Ford is set to become Nevada’s first Black governor. The Reno Gazette Journal reported he led by about 80,000 votes as of 2 a.m. Wednesday; his campaign said he overcame being outspent by tens of millions.
Reporting: National Public Radio, rgj.com
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Democrat David Crowley won Wisconsin's governor race
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a Democrat, defeated Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany on Tuesday to win Wisconsin’s governor’s race, becoming the state’s first Black governor. Crowley will succeed Gov. Tony Evers, who did not seek a third term. WisPolitics reported Crowley won despite being vastly outspent; jsonline reported he flipped Kenosha and Racine counties.
Reporting: CBS News, marquettewire.org, wuwm.com, mprnews.org, wpr.org, jsonline.com, wispolitics.com
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California voters elected Democrat Xavier Becerra over Republican Steve Hilton
Democrat Xavier Becerra won California’s governor’s race Tuesday, defeating Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host who has never held elected office. Becerra, a former California attorney general and health and human services secretary under President Joe Biden, will succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom and become the state’s first Latino governor since 1875.
Reporting: PBS News, Axios, NBC News, KCRA 3 Sacramento, mercurynews.com
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Jon Ossoff won reelection to the U.S. Senate in Georgia
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff won reelection in Georgia Tuesday, defeating Republican Rep. Mike Collins and securing a second six-year term. Collins, a two-term congressman, had Donald Trump’s endorsement. The Associated Press called the race at 7:55 p.m. EST, according to PBS News. Ossoff’s victory keeps the seat in Democratic hands.
Reporting: PBS News, NBC News, Reuters, CBS News, wjcl.com, georgiarecorder.com
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Democrat Peggy Flanagan won Minnesota's U.S. Senate race
Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, preserving the seat for Democrats after Sen. Tina Smith declined to seek reelection. Axios said anger over Donald Trump’s policies, including his immigration crackdown, helped propel Flanagan to victory. She will be the first Native American woman to serve in the Senate.
Reporting: Minnesota Star Tribune, Scripps News, CBS News, Axios, minnesotareformer.com
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Pappas won the open New Hampshire Senate contest over Sununu
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas defeated Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu in New Hampshire’s Senate race Tuesday, keeping the open seat in Democratic hands, the Associated Press reported; NBC News also projected Pappas as the winner. The Washington Examiner said Pappas led by more than 20 points when the race was called and Sununu conceded.
Reporting: New Haven Register (with Associated Press), Boston.com (with Associated Press), NBC News, Washington Examiner
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Democrat Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn to win the Iowa governorship
Democratic state auditor Rob Sand won Iowa’s governor’s race, defeating Republican opponent Zach Lahn and flipping an office Republicans had held for more than two decades. Sand is the first Democrat elected governor since 2006. The Associated Press said his victory likely ushers in a new era of divided state government.
Reporting: CBS News, Des Moines Register, PBS News, kttc.com, iowacapitaldispatch.com
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Poland thwarted a possible provocation along its border with Kaliningrad, Tusk said
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland prevented a possible provocation on its border with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave after guards spotted people with flashlights shortly after midnight Tuesday. RMF24 placed the sighting near Sępopol in Warmian-Masurian province and reported no one crossed into Poland. Tusk cited Polish and allied intelligence warnings of possible sabotage or provocations.
Reporting: Bloomberg, The Moscow Times, Meduza, ABC News, SOFX News, EUalive, united24media.com
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The European Commission is convening talks in Brussels with Ukraine and Western partners
The European Commission is convening talks in Brussels on Nov. 4 focused on Ukraine’s security guarantees, postwar reconstruction and long-term development, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said, according to voennoedelo.com. AOL reported that representatives from Ukraine and several Western partners were expected, but said it remained unclear who would represent Kyiv and Washington.
Reporting: AOL, voennoedelo.com
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Lewis County child died of measles in New York's first fatal case in 30 years
A child in Lewis County, New York, has died after contracting measles, marking the state’s first measles-related death in 30 years, health officials confirmed. Officials provided few details, and the child’s vaccination status is unclear. Gov. Kathy Hochul called it a reminder of what’s at stake when vaccine protections are eroded. New York reported 210 cases through Oct. 31.
Reporting: The Times of India, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Straight Arrow News, CIDRAP News, The Guardian, scientificamerican.com
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A Washington resident died from bird flu
A Yakima County, Washington, resident with underlying health conditions has died from severe bird flu after exposure to infected cattle at a dairy, local health officials said Nov. 1. It is the first U.S. bird flu death of 2026 and the third since 2024. Officials are monitoring close contacts; three human cases have been confirmed in the county.
Reporting: ABC7 New York, agdaily.com, chronline.com, globalbiodefense.com, discovermagazine.com, fox13seattle.com