Summary Democrats won the US House and made major Senate gains in the 2026 midterms, dealing a significant setback to President Donald Trump and Republicans.
WASHINGTON (Reuters): Democrats have captured control of both chambers of the US Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, defeating Republicans in a sweeping nationwide victory that dealt a major blow to President Donald Trump's administration and reflected widespread voter dissatisfaction with his leadership.
According to media projections and election results, Democrats secured majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, making significant gains in traditionally Republican strongholds, including South Carolina, Kansas, Texas, Iowa and Ohio.
The results marked a major shift in the political landscape, with voters expressing frustration over rising living costs, higher fuel prices, Trump's tariffs and the US war against Iran, which began in February.
The Democratic victories will give the opposition greater power to challenge Trump's legislative agenda, investigate his administration and exercise congressional oversight during the final two years of his presidency.
Democrats Flip Six Senate Seats
Democrats flipped six Republican-held Senate seats, securing a majority in the upper chamber even as several closely contested races remained under scrutiny.
One of the biggest surprises came in South Carolina, where Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham, becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the traditionally conservative state since 1998.
Graham had been appointed to fill the seat following the death of her brother, longtime Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, in July. Trump had backed her campaign for a full six-year term.
Andrews' victory was particularly significant because Trump had carried South Carolina by nearly 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
In Kansas, Democratic megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton won a Senate seat, becoming the first Democrat to do so in the state since the Great Depression nearly a century ago.
Democrat Sherrod Brown also defeated Republican Jon Husted in Ohio, reclaiming a Senate seat that had previously belonged to Vice President JD Vance. Brown is a former senator, and CNN and NBC News projected him as the winner.
In Texas, Democratic state Representative James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton despite substantial outside spending against his campaign. Texas had supported Trump by a double-digit margin in 2024.
Democrats also secured victories in North Carolina and Iowa. Former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper defeated his Republican opponent, while Iowa state lawmaker Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson.
Turek's victory came amid voter dissatisfaction over Trump's tariffs, which have particularly affected farmers in the agricultural state.
Democrats Hold Key Senate Seats
Democrats also retained crucial Senate seats in Georgia and New Hampshire.
In Georgia, incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff won re-election, while Chris Pappas secured victory in New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate.
Ossoff described the Democratic victories as a rejection of Trump's leadership, telling supporters that Americans had delivered a rebuke to what he called the president's corruption and incompetence.
Democrats entered the election needing four net Senate gains to take control of the chamber. Republicans had previously held a 53-47 majority.
The six Republican-held seats flipped by Democrats gave the party control of the Senate, according to Reuters' reported results.
Democratic Wave Extends to House of Representatives
Democrats also captured control of the House of Representatives, with television networks projecting a Democratic majority after the party made significant gains in competitive districts.
The party flipped at least eight Republican-held seats in states including Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina, while also making advances in traditionally Republican areas.
In Indiana, Democrat JD Ford defeated Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz in a closely watched district that Trump had won by 17 percentage points in 2024.
The victory was viewed as an early indication of a broader Democratic wave extending into Republican strongholds.
Democrats also retained three Florida House districts that Republicans had redrawn earlier this year. Trump had won all three districts by at least nine percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
The results indicated that Republican efforts to strengthen their position through redistricting had not produced the expected gains.
Democrats Make Historic Gains in Governorships
Democratic victories extended beyond Congress, with the party also making significant gains in gubernatorial elections.
In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in US history.
The victory also ended 24 years of Republican control of the state's governorship. Incumbent Governor Brian Kemp was unable to seek re-election because of term limits.
Democrats also captured governorships in traditionally Republican Iowa and Ohio.
In Texas, three-term Republican Governor Greg Abbott lost to Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa, marking another major setback for the Republican Party.
Meanwhile, Republican Byron Donalds won Florida's gubernatorial election, becoming the state's first Black governor.
Republicans Face Setbacks Even in Traditionally Strong States
The Democratic wave was also evident in Florida, where Republican Senator Ashley Moody defeated Democratic challenger Angie Nixon but secured victory by a narrow margin of approximately three percentage points.
Trump had carried Florida by 13 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
Democrats also held onto three Republican-targeted House districts in Florida, highlighting the party's improved performance in areas that had previously supported Trump.
The results suggested that Republican support had weakened even in states traditionally considered strongholds for the party.
Rising Living Costs and Iran War Weigh on Republicans
The midterm elections were widely viewed as a referendum on Trump's second presidential term, with economic concerns and foreign policy playing a major role in shaping voter sentiment.
Rising fuel prices, inflation, affordability concerns and Trump's tariffs emerged as key issues during the campaign.
His decision to launch military action against Iran in February also contributed to higher energy prices, increasing pressure on American households.
According to exit polls conducted by SSRS on behalf of a consortium of US media organisations, including major television networks and the Associated Press, around half of voters said they viewed the elections as an opportunity to rebuke Trump.
Three-quarters of voters described themselves as angry or dissatisfied with the direction of the country, while 70 per cent said they wanted Congress to establish stronger checks and balances on the president.
Opinion polls also indicated that affordability was among voters' biggest concerns, with many expressing dissatisfaction over the administration's handling of the economy.
Trump Reacts to Republican Losses
Trump had actively campaigned for Republican candidates in the closing weeks before the elections, holding more than two dozen rallies and repeatedly urging supporters to vote as if he himself were on the ballot.
As Democratic victories became increasingly clear, Trump responded on social media, saying that Republicans would have won by a landslide if he had been on the ballot.
He also defended his administration's record, highlighting his tariffs, immigration crackdown and military campaign against Iran.
Earlier, he had indicated that he might veto legislation passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress, although he also acknowledged the possibility of negotiating agreements with Democrats.
A White House official described the administration's mood as defiant, saying Trump would continue opposing what the official called the radical left regardless of the election outcome.
Democratic Control Could Lead to Investigations
The Democratic takeover of both congressional chambers is expected to significantly change the political dynamics in Washington.
Control of the House will allow Democrats to lead congressional committees, investigate the administration and challenge Trump's legislative priorities.
Potential areas of investigation include the war against Iran, mass deportations and allegations of corruption.
Control of the Senate will also give Democrats greater influence over judicial nominations and senior administration appointments.
The change in congressional leadership could make it more difficult for Trump to advance his legislative agenda during the remaining two years of his presidency.
Election Monitoring Raises Concerns
The elections also attracted attention over concerns about potential challenges to the voting process.
The US Justice Department deployed 1,000 election monitors and observers across all 50 states, describing the operation as the largest Election Day monitoring effort in American history.
Democrats and legal observers criticised the deployment, warning that it could intimidate voters.
A Reuters analysis found that voters in approximately two-thirds of the jurisdictions included in the Justice Department's monitoring plan had supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris over Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
However, election officials in several states reported no problems with the monitoring process.
New Mexico's Secretary of State's office said it had received reports of federal monitors asking unusual questions in one county. The Justice Department subsequently assured officials that the reported conduct would be addressed.
The results represent a significant shift in US politics, with Democrats gaining control of both chambers of Congress and making substantial advances in states that had strongly supported Trump in the previous presidential election.
