Democrats have secured majorities in both chambers of the US Congress following a sweeping victory in the midterm elections, as voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly the US-Iran war and rising living costs, contributed to significant Republican setbacks.
The party flipped several Senate seats in traditionally Republican states, securing a majority of at least 54-44, while also gaining at least 30 seats in the House of Representatives.
The outcome marks the first time Trump, a Republican who previously served as president from 2017 to 2021, will face a Congress controlled by Democrats in both chambers.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the incoming majority would prioritise addressing the rising cost of living and holding the administration accountable.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Jeffries said Democrats were accountable to the American people rather than the president, adding that the House would no longer operate as an extension of the Trump administration. He is expected to become the first Black speaker of the House.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has emerged as a prominent Democratic figure, also urged his party to address voters’ concerns over rising prices and public services, including education and infrastructure.
He said winning political power was not enough and stressed that Democrats must now deliver on their promises.
Meanwhile, Trump briefly addressed the election results during an appearance at the White House, where he showcased the ballroom under construction. He said he was willing to work with Democrats unless they adopted what he described as a destructive approach, adding that he retained presidential veto powers.
Trump had repeatedly presented the midterm elections as a referendum on the first half of his second presidential term, urging Republican supporters to treat the contest as if he himself were on the ballot.
However, voters in several traditionally conservative states shifted their support towards Democrats, reflecting frustration over the war with Iran, economic pressures and the administration’s handling of national affairs.
In Texas, Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak by securing their first Senate seat in the state since 1988 and defeating three-term Governor Greg Abbott.
Kansas also elected its first Democratic senator in nearly a century, while Democrats in South Carolina defeated Trump’s preferred Senate candidate despite the president’s strong performance in the state during the 2024 election.
Senate contests in Alaska and Mississippi remained uncalled as of Wednesday morning, leaving open the possibility of Democrats expanding their majority to 56-44.
Once the new Congress takes office in January, Democrats are expected to use their majority to launch investigations into Trump’s administration, family members and political allies, while seeking greater influence over major legislative decisions.
The Democratic-controlled Senate will also have the authority to block presidential nominees, including potential appointments to the US Supreme Court if a vacancy arises.
The election outcome has also renewed speculation about the future of the Supreme Court’s two oldest conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, and the court’s conservative majority.
Republicans, meanwhile, will retain control until the new Congress is sworn in. During this period, they are expected to prioritise legislation to fund the federal government beyond December and advance conservative policies before their term ends.
The Republican defeat has also triggered changes in the party’s congressional leadership. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he would not continue leading the Republican caucus next year.
Trump acknowledged that the war with Iran had contributed to his party’s poor performance but defended his decision to launch the military campaign.
Vice President JD Vance also attributed the Republican losses to the conflict, saying in a social media post that the war was the reason behind the defeat. He questioned whether the military action had been worth the political cost, including losing control of the Senate for the next six years.
Democrats centred their election campaign on corruption and affordability, blaming Trump’s import tariffs and the war with Iran for increasing economic pressures on American households.
They also highlighted the financial gains made by members of Trump’s family since his return to the White House.
Republicans, led by Trump, focused their campaign on social issues, criticising Democrats over their support for transgender rights and portraying the party as politically extreme.
However, the election results indicated that economic concerns and the rising cost of living had taken precedence among voters.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the Republican defeat as a major setback for his party, warning that the results represented an existential challenge.
Democrats made significant gains across the country, with Republicans losing ground in approximately 99 per cent of the 2,100 counties where most votes had been counted by Wednesday morning, according to compiled election figures.
The elections also produced several historic milestones.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s open Senate seat, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate after defeating Republican candidate Mike Rogers, who had received Trump’s endorsement.
In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in US history, while New Mexico’s Deb Haaland made history as the first Native American woman elected to the governorship.
The results have marked a major political setback for Republicans and strengthened Democrats’ position ahead of the remaining years of Trump’s presidency.
