US expats ride a blue wave at Australian midterms watch parties, excited after a long time
From anxiety to celebration
At a Sydney pub, US voters, their Australian partners and British spectators watched election coverage on television. The gathering’s mood shifted within hours from nervous phone and browser checks to champagne and celebration.
One woman attended with her Australian husband and adult son. She said Democrats had won decisively and argued that the result showed many Americans wanted a different direction from the administration.
A vote for change
The woman said she was amazed that James Talarico won a Texas Senate seat, describing it as difficult for a Democrat to win there. She had followed US politics closely and said voting in this election mattered to her.
She also said her parents generally did not vote and had not voted while living abroad. Her own interest grew after watching a presidential election before she was old enough to cast a ballot.
Trump and the midterm result
David Smith, an associate professor at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre, described the midterms as a referendum on Trump. He said the president’s approval ratings were historically low as voters went to the polls.
Smith cited the war in Iran and rising prices, along with Trump’s Washington projects, as issues that could shape voters’ views. He said some Americans saw the president as focused on himself rather than the country.
Possible effects beyond the US
Smith said the result could have important implications for the Iran war, but he doubted it would directly alter Australia’s relationship with the US. He noted that Congress currently has a limited role in foreign policy.
He said a result showing limits to Trumpism might lead some rightwing politicians around the world to reconsider their ties to Trump. Wood said Australians may not want a leader as mercurial as Trump, while some people are seeking change.
Key points
- US voters and supporters gathered in Sydney to follow the midterm results.
- Attendees celebrated a decisive Democratic win and a Texas Senate seat flipping to the party.
- David Smith called the election a referendum on Trump amid low approval ratings.
- Smith said Congress has limited influence over foreign policy and Australia’s US relationship.