Democrats have taken control of the United States House of Representatives and recorded significant victories in key Senate races, dealing a major political blow to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on Wednesday that Democrats had secured a majority in the House, where all 435 seats were contested, although vote counting was still ongoing in some states.
The opposition party also made significant gains in the Senate, defeating Republican candidates in Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio, while retaining its seats in Georgia and New Hampshire.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, marking the first time a Democrat has won a Senate seat in the traditionally Republican state since 1988.
Similarly, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina, becoming the first woman elected to represent the state in the US Senate and the first Democrat to win a Senate seat there in more than two decades.
In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley, while Sherrod Brown secured victory in Ohio against Republican incumbent Jon Husted.
The results have placed Republican control of the Senate under significant pressure, although the final composition of the chamber remained uncertain as counting continued.
The midterm elections, held on Tuesday, November 3, determine the composition of the US Congress, which comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate. A total of 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats were contested.
The Democratic victories could significantly affect Trump’s legislative agenda during the remaining two years of his presidency, particularly if the party consolidates its control of the House and makes further gains in the Senate.
With Democrats controlling the House, the Trump administration could face increased congressional scrutiny, including investigations into government policies, executive decisions and matters involving the president and his family.
Reacting to the Republican setbacks, Trump sought to distance himself from the outcome, arguing that his name was not on the ballot.
“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
However, in an interview with The New York Times published later, the president expressed willingness to work with Democratic lawmakers.
“We’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out,” Trump said.
The Associated Press reported that Trump had backed several Republican candidates who lost their races, including Paxton in Texas and Graham in South Carolina.
Midterm elections are traditionally regarded as a referendum on the performance of a sitting president and his administration. The outcome often determines the extent to which the governing party can advance its legislative agenda or faces resistance from an opposition-controlled Congress.
The Democratic gains could therefore usher in a more challenging political environment for Trump, with implications for his domestic policies, legislative priorities and the broader balance of power in Washington.