From Daily Maverick · Mondli Makhanya · · 2m
US midterms show SA voters the power of the ballot
Democrats' sweeping victory on November 3 offers South Africa a stark lesson: staying home cannot hold leaders accountable, but voting can.
In brief
Democrats' sweeping victory on November 3 offers South Africa a stark lesson: staying home cannot hold leaders accountable, but voting can. America's Democratic landslide on November 3 demonstrates that angry voters can punish leaders at the ballot box, a lesson South Africa's apathetic electorate urgently needs to…
Democrats deliver historic blowout
/file/attachments/orphans/hf_20261106_102224_f2ddadba-0a04-45b1-95b1-544bc7c2af0f_min_429924.png)
On 3 November, American voters delivered what is being described as a blowout victory for Democrats. The scale shocked even the party's optimistic leadership, with predictions of a blue wave upgraded to a blue tsunami.
Vance breaks ranks over Iran war
Vice President JD Vance broke with the Trump administration, blaming the unwinnable war with Iran for the Republican defeat. He linked the loss to Americans' anger over the cost of living and Israel policy.
Trump denies the scale of defeat
Trump masked his shock by touring his White House ballroom construction project the day after the election.When asked about the results, he claimed his party would have won if he had been on the ballot.
Republicans defected to Democrats
Traditional Republican voters were key to the outcome. They voiced displeasure at Trump and the GOP by defecting to Democrats in droves, willing to vote for the other side to punish their own leaders.
Vance identifies the real problem
Vance wrote on X: The main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump slash Vance in twenty twenty-four voted for Democrats in twenty twenty-six.
“The main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026.”
South Africa's voter turnout crisis
South African turnout among registered voters is just forty-six percent. Many voters express anger by staying away from polling stations rather than punishing leaders with their ballot paper.
The myth of the powerless vote
The sentiment that my vote doesn't make a difference is still way too prevalent in South Africa. Yet American voters proved that each ballot can change things by delivering a devastating blow to Trump.
Parties must rebuild voter trust
South African political parties have failed to enthuse voters or show how democracy works for them. Lack of delivery has bred distrust, causing voters to paint all parties with the same brush.
Democrats' lesson for SA parties
South African parties should learn from Democrats how to convert the disenchanted into voters. Democrats made people believe that each and every one had the power to change things through the ballot.
Here's the gist
America's Democratic landslide on November 3 demonstrates that angry voters can punish leaders at the ballot box, a lesson South Africa's apathetic electorate urgently needs to learn.
