Democrats have won control of both chambers of the United States Congress in a sweeping midterm election victory, dealing a major blow to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
The Democrats secured victories in the Senate and House of Representatives following Tuesday’s elections, in which voters turned against Republicans in several traditionally conservative states.
According to the Associated Press (AP), Democrats flipped at least seven Republican-held Senate seats in Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Among the notable victories, James Talarico defeated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to win a Senate seat in the traditionally Republican state. Adam Hamilton also defeated incumbent Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, marking the first time since 1932 that the state has elected a Democrat to the Senate.
Other Democratic victories included Annie Andrews in South Carolina, Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Roy Cooper in North Carolina and Josh Turek in Iowa.
In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson defeated longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins, who was seeking a sixth term.
Democrats also reclaimed control of the House of Representatives, flipping several Republican-held seats, including in districts that Trump won by as much as 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
The results reflect voter frustration over rising living costs, the war in Iran and concerns about corruption and the Trump administration’s policies.
Trump, who had urged voters to view the elections as a referendum on his presidency, sought to distance himself from the Republican losses. Speaking to Fox News after the results, he congratulated Democrats on their victories but insisted the outcome was not a personal rejection of his leadership.
The Democratic victories will give the party greater power to scrutinise the Trump administration, launch congressional investigations and block parts of the president’s legislative agenda during the final two years of his term.
However, Trump will retain his presidential veto power, meaning Democrats will still need Republican support to override any vetoes.
