Hour in Review — 2026-11-04 02:00 UTC 36 sources
The US midterms dominated the hour, and early returns ran toward Democrats. Roy Cooper beat Trump's handpicked Michael Whatley in North Carolina, the first Senate seat of the night to flip to Democrats 1,2, after the Senate Leadership Fund canceled $18 million in planned October spending there 3. Jon Ossoff held Georgia against Trump-backed Mike Collins 4, a seat Republicans had once viewed as the most vulnerable Democratic one 5. Chris Pappas held New Hampshire's open seat against John Sununu 6 and becomes the first openly gay man elected to the Senate 7. Juliana Stratton won in Illinois, the first time three Black women will serve in the Senate at once 8. Republicans kept Florida with Ashley Moody 9 and West Virginia with Shelley Moore Capito 10. The stakes are a 53-47 Republican majority 11, which Democrats need a net gain of four seats to flip 12. Michigan remains tight 13, and Maine's result may be slowed by ranked-choice counting 14. In the House, Kathy Castor held a Tampa seat that Republicans had redrawn to target her 15. Three Florida seats redrawn to favor Republicans have so far gone to Democrats 16, and Jamie Ager flipped North Carolina's 11th District 17. Exit polls point to economics: 88% called the cost of living a crucial or major factor in their vote 18, roughly 60% blame Trump for high prices 19, and most said the Iran war and high gas prices shaped their votes 20. NBC figures did show Republicans up 12 points among Election Day voters 21. Markets reacted directly. Nasdaq 100 futures fell nearly 1.5% as Democratic sweep odds hit 95% 22, stock futures declined on concerns about regulatory changes 23, and Treasuries rallied on the early returns 24. The Iran conflict was the other live thread. US forces struck in the Strait of Hormuz hours before the vote while talks to head off a larger wave of US and Israeli strikes continue 25. Tehran is using rocket-propelled grenades and limpet mines against Gulf oil shipments 26. After Israel reportedly warned that Iran may be preparing chemical weapons 27, the US drew up plans for new strikes 28. Gold held near $3,930 as traders watched both the Iran talks and the midterms 29, and oil edged higher on mixed US-Iran signals 30. Separately, Trump says he will end Israel's $3.8bn annual military aid package 31, which has put Israeli arms deals in doubt 32. Also notable: Vladimir Medinsky will lead Russia's delegation at trilateral Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 33, and the Kremlin says a Trump-Putin-Xi meeting is being arranged for November 34. North Korea denied the FBI's accusation that it carried out the Binance heist 35, and 3M committed $7.35 billion to settle forever-chemicals claims 36.
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