Philippine Senate Race Delivers Blow to Marcos

The Philippine midterm elections have become a setback for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as unofficial results indicate his allies will win about half of the Senate seats—fewer than expected—while Duterte-backed candidates and the liberal opposition saw stronger-than-anticipated performances, buoyed by a surge in youth voter turnout. The results reflect waning support for Marcos amid cost-of-living concerns and his public conflict with Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte allies, including ex-president Rodrigo Duterte and his children, performed well at the local level. The Senate remains crucial, as its composition will determine the outcome of Sara Duterte’s impending impeachment trial, which requires a two-thirds majority for conviction. Analysts note that the results complicate Marcos’s legislative agenda and signal a more fragmented Senate, reshaping the balance of power ahead of the 2028 presidential race. Final confirmation of winners is pending, but early tallies point to a reshuffled and divided political landscape.