2026 Election predictions

As I do every year, here are my predictions for next year. With how chaotic things are, I suspect I will get many wrong. After all at this time last year, it was near certain Conservatives would win in Canada, highly likely right would win in Norway, and L/NP had slight edge in Australia. Instead Liberals had a massive comeback and won, Labour got re-elected in Norway and Labor in Australia won biggest landslide in over a generation. So as they say events dear boy events.

Americas:

Canada:

Federal: Poilievre wins leadership review with around 80% support but his problems don’t end there. 2 more Conservative MPs cross the floor to Liberals and Liberals pick up Edmonton-Riverbend in by-election. This gives Liberals a workable majority. Heather McPherson becomes next NDP leader. BC Conservatives too early to say but leader chosen is from right wing of party not moderate. Recalls in Alberta all fail to get enough signatures but show a lot of anger at Smith. NDP will pull ahead and have a 5 point lead by this time next year. Federally as Carney gets stuff done, his lead widens with Conservatives falling to about 35% by this point next year.

Quebec: PQ wins but fear of another referendum leads to them falling short of majority. Liberals with new leader make a surprising recover. CAQ gets wiped out. Conservatives win at least one seat but fewer than five. All in Chaudiere-Appalaches

No other provincial or federal elections

United States

House: Democrats narrowly win house but at lot closer than expected

Senate: GOP keeps this as while Democrats have net gain of 2 seats, it is still 51-49.

Governors: Democrats hold and gain a few but largely status quo

Brazil: Right defeats Lula confirming right wing trend sweeping Latin America. Trump intervenes threatening to cut off funding if don’t vote for right wing candidate like did in Argentina and Honduras but has little impact either way

Europe

Cyprus: centre-right Democratic Rally is re-elected and forms a coalition with other centrist parties. Far right gets in high teens due to concerns on immigration

Denmark: Social Democrats come in first, but right which is much more divided comes out ahead with Blue Bloc coming ahead of Red Bloc. Far right combined gets record being in high teens.

Germany: AfD comes in first in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony Anhalt and forming coalition a herculean nightmare. CDU takes Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Wurttemberg and both involve some grand coalition with former being red-black and latter red-green. AfD in both gets around 20% showing gains in former Western regions. CDU comes in first in Berlin, but red-red-green coalition formed.

Hungary: Orban despite united front and tight polls, pulls off another win showing country further sliding into authoritarianism

Latvia: Right and far right dominate while centrist and left of centre parties do horrible. Some right wing coalition

Slovenia: Slovenian Democrats on far right come in first but neither past centre-right and centre-left have majority but in end new parties side with Slovenian Democrats allowing Janez to become PM again.

Spain: All three regional elections see centre-right PP come in first while Vox gains and PSOE sinks so right easily forms a majority in all three.

Sweden: Tido parties who form government have a surprising come back denying left wing parties a win but following European trend to right.

United Kingdom: Reform comes in first in Wales, but Plaid Cymru forms government by forming a coalition with Labour + Liberal Democrats. SNP wins Scotland, but Reform surges to over 20% and combined right exceeds 30% which has never been seen since devolution.

Asia

Israel: Likud under Bibi once again comes first and forms coalition with far right parties

Thailand: PTP on centre-right ousts centre-left government

India: Modi’s NDA alliance wins 3 of 5 state elections picking up one doesn’t hold currently.

Oceania

Australia: Labor holds South Australia, but L/NP picks up Victoria from Labor

New Zealand: National + ACT win enough seats to form a coalition without including New Zealand First. Centre-left has massive disappointment as Labour gains but Greens fall and Maori party due to infighting underperforms.

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