German news outlets turned their attention to the 2026 US midterm elections this week, with STERN.de running a live overview of current polling and trends. The publisher's coverage is paired with background pieces on what the results could mean for President Donald Trump and for the balance of power in Congress.
According to STERN.de, its live format is intended to track survey data and emerging trends as election day approaches. The outlet has also published an explainer on the US congressional elections for readers unfamiliar with the system.
Other German broadcasters and publications are covering the same contest from different angles. DIE ZEIT has reported on what could happen to Trump if the Republicans lose, while n-tv.de has examined forecasts and whether the president's party might surrender its congressional majority. Tagesschau.de, meanwhile, has hosted a discussion asking whether the United States can still be described as a democracy.
The material reviewed does not include specific polling figures, seat projections or dates beyond the coverage itself, and no vote counts have been cited here. The German reports frame the midterms as a test of Republican control of Congress and of Trump's political position.
What to watch next: further polling releases and forecast updates from STERN.de and other German outlets as the midterm campaign advances.
