Democrats seize control of Congress in sweeping midterm repudiation of Trump

Democrats seized control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations, Reuters reported on November 4.

Voters in conservative bastions who had propelled President Donald Trump to his second term just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country, Reuters reported.

This article follows RealTimeNews24's October 31 report on the campaign's final weekend, when early voting had already set a midterm record, with more than 49 million ballots cast before Election Day.

Senate at least 54-44, with two races uncalled

Democrats took the Senate, where they flipped seats in deeply Republican states for a majority of at least 54-44, Reuters reported on November 5. Democrats also gained at least 30 seats in the House of Representatives.

Extremely close Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remained uncalled as of Wednesday, leaving open the possibility that the Democrats' majority could increase by two more seats to 56-44, Reuters reported. The Alaska race may not be called for more than a week because of ranked-choice tabulation, while the timeline for a decision in Mississippi remained unclear.

Results are projections by news organisations, not certified final counts; states certify results in the weeks after Election Day.

Breakthroughs in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina

In Texas, the biggest Republican-led state before Tuesday, Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak, winning their first Senate seat there since 1988 and ousting three-term Governor Greg Abbott, Reuters reported.

Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since the Great Depression nearly a century ago. In South Carolina, a state that Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024, Democrats turned aside his hand-picked Senate candidate, Reuters reported.

In Texas, Trump had backed Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, over the incumbent, Senator John Cornyn. In South Carolina, the president anointed Darline Graham, a political neophyte, after her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, died suddenly earlier this year. Both candidates lost, Reuters reported.

But even candidates who sought to distance themselves from Trump were unable to escape voters' wrath. In Maine, Republican incumbent Susan Collins had her 30-year Senate career end on Tuesday, despite emphasizing her willingness to break with the president during the campaign, Reuters reported.

What voters said drove the result

According to exit polls conducted by SSRS on behalf of a consortium of US media outlets including major television networks and the Associated Press, half of voters nationwide said they saw the 2026 midterm elections as an opportunity to rebuke the president, and three-quarters said they are "angry" or "dissatisfied" with the way the country is headed, Reuters reported.

In addition, 70% of voters surveyed said they want Congress to provide more checks and balances on the president.

Democrats focused their campaign on corruption and affordability, blaming Trump's tariff policy and the war with Iran for driving up costs, while Republicans attacked Democrats over culture war issues such as transgender rights, Reuters reported. In poll after poll, voters made it clear they were far more concerned with pocketbook issues.

The Democratic wave flooded huge swaths of the country. Republicans lost ground in 99% of the approximately 2,100 counties where most votes had been counted as of Wednesday morning, according to tallies compiled by Reuters and USA Today.

Historic firsts on election night

The night included several historic firsts for both parties. In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor of any US state, while Byron Donalds won Florida's gubernatorial race to become the first Black Republican governor in the US, Reuters reported.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa will become the first Latina governor in Texas, while Democrat Xavier Becerra will be California's first Latino governor, Reuters reported.

What happens next

The results will usher in a new era of divided government in Washington, following two years in which the Republican-controlled Congress rarely exercised its power to rein in Trump, Reuters reported.

Once seated in January, Democrats are expected to use their power to investigate Trump's administration, family and allies and demand concessions on major legislation. The Democratic Senate can block Trump's nominees, including any US Supreme Court justices should a vacancy arise, Reuters reported.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Wednesday that the incoming majority would be focused on affordability and accountability. "We don't work for Donald Trump," Jeffries told reporters. "We work for the American people."

Trump, who is barred by the US Constitution from seeking a third term, accepted the outcome, congratulating Democrats in an interview with Fox News. He also said he would work with Democrats on issues such as immigration, though he threatened to veto any "insane" bills they passed, Reuters reported.

In the meantime, Republicans hold the reins and will have at least one must-pass piece of legislation ahead — a measure to fund the federal government past December — that they could use to enact conservative priorities during the so-called lame-duck period, Reuters reported. The loss also upended Republicans' House leadership, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying he would not continue to lead his caucus next year.