Democrats have won Congress, taking control of both the House and Senate after a bruising midterm election that dealt President Donald Trump and the Republican Party a major political setback.
Tuesday’s vote saw Democrats break through in Republican strongholds as concerns over high prices, the war with Iran and government corruption shaped voters’ choices. The results give Democrats control of Capitol Hill for the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency.
Democrats break Republican strongholds
Among the night’s biggest upsets was James Talarico’s Senate victory in Texas, ending more than three decades without a Democrat winning statewide office there. Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, who had Trump’s backing.
In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham, another Trump backed candidate, while progressive Abdul El Sayed beat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan. Democrat Troy Jackson also defeated veteran Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine.
The results reflected a sharp shift among groups that helped return Trump to office in 2024, particularly young and Hispanic voters. Democrats flipped at least seven Senate seats and more than two dozen House districts.
Trump faces tougher final two years
Democratic control of Congress is expected to severely restrict Trump’s legislative agenda and give the party greater power to investigate his administration.
Democratic leaders have already signalled plans for tougher congressional oversight, including scrutiny of senior administration officials and the Trump family’s business activities.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described the result as a “generational remake of the Senate map.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is now positioned to become Speaker when the new Congress convenes, said “the American people are crying out for transformational change.”
Trump has rejected suggestions that the losses amounted to a personal repudiation, blaming Republican candidates for the defeats. The election, however, leaves him facing a Democratic Congress for the final stretch of his presidency.
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