Democracy was on display during the 2026 midterm elections in the U.S. Over 124 million ballots were cast across the country, with considerable foreign interest.
This was democracy in action. A testament to the power of the people; engaging in governance through free and fair elections and ensuring that all public officials are answerable to the electorate.
A few authoritarian countries – where a peaceful electoral transition of power is nearly impossible -- followed these elections, providing their people with selective information.
Russia acknowledged the results and said the political shift would not alter Russia’s current geopolitical strategies. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryablov said Moscow historically has strained interactions with Democrats. He said the war in Ukraine would remain unchanged regardless of the U.S. election.
China said the election was an internal U.S. matter. Their Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized China’s readiness to manage differences and maintain a stable bilateral relationship based on mutual respect.
Iran publicized the election results, saying the Democratic victory was a victory against U.S. foreign policy. On November 4, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posted a public message asserting the U.S. electorate had rejected the war with Iran.
North Korea, as Americans were casting ballots, test-fired multiple missiles toward the East Sea. The display was highly unusual because it paired a new surface-to-air defensive missile with a drill utilizing long-range strategic cruise missiles. Apparently, it was a show of force to demonstrate North Korea’s advanced electronic warfare and defense-evading capabilities. Kim Yo-jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, issued statements coinciding with the U.S. election. Ms. Jong said North Korea has no need to sit face to face with such unreliable and hostile persons, demanding that Washington abandon its hostile policies and show respect to North Korea. This was typical of Ms. Jong’s previous statements about the U.S. and a response to President Trump’s willingness to again meet with Kim Jong Un.
It must have been difficult for these authoritarian countries to comment too freely about the U.S. election when the people in these, and many other countries, are denied the ability to participate in free and fair elections. Indeed, their governments often are not answerable to the people. They answer only to a supreme leader in Russia and North Korea, and to a ruling theocracy in Iran and to the Chinese Communist Party in China.
Russian President Vladimir Putin must be concerned about his questionable support from the public, witnessing over one million casualties in its war in Ukraine and flagrant corruption. Former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, when Russian casualties mounted and the Russian people said “no” to losing any more of their sons and daughters. Will the Russian people say “no” to Putin for the mounting casualties in Ukraine? Mr. Putin must be concerned if Russia’s elections were free and fair.
The Iranian theocracy was brutal towards the people during the 2009 Green Movement, when Iranians protested the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The government was brutal in dealing with widespread demonstrations throughout Iran in 2022 with the “Woman, Life, Freedom” demonstrations and with the recent demonstrations over crushing inflation and deep poverty due to government failures. The Iranian theocracy must be concerned about the lack of support they have from the people and what would happen with free and fair elections.
Will the North Koreans continue to support a regime that sends troops to Russia, suffering extreme casualties, for Russia’s war with Ukraine? This and other issues, to include inferior medical facilities and the lack of food and the gulags that imprison political dissidents, are some of the issues that raise questions about the public support for the regime. Would Pyongyang permit free and fair elections?
Will the Chinese people continue to support the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) when they are denied the right to vote and elect officials who will represent and be answerable to the people?
It is obvious why these authoritarian countries do not permit free and fair elections.
According to The Economist Democracy Index, authoritarian countries make up 36.5% of the world’s countries. Hopefully, this percentage will shrink. Recent elections in Serbia, Hungary, and Brazil give hope to the view that democracy will prevail, because it is what the people want and demand of their governments.
This article was originally published in The Washington Times and is republished here with permission.
The author is a former associate director of national intelligence. All statements of fact, opinion or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the U.S. government.
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