Democrats won control of the Senate and House in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, delivering a major setback to President Donald Trump. Their victories reached Republican strongholds including Texas, South Carolina and Iowa.
Voter frustration centred on living costs, economic management and Trump’s February decision to launch war against Iran, which pushed petrol prices higher.
The outcome sets up divided government from January. Democrats will gain powers to investigate the administration, challenge legislation and block presidential nominees, including potential Supreme Court appointments.
Democrats overturn Republican strongholds
In Kansas, megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat since the Great Depression.
Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown captured the seat Vice President JD Vance held two years earlier. Texas state Representative James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton despite heavy outside spending. Both states backed Trump by double-digit margins in 2024.
In South Carolina, paediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Senator Darline Graham. Graham had taken office after her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, died. Trump won the state by nearly 18 points in 2024.
Trump backed Paxton and Graham over more established alternatives. Paxton’s controversies included his 2023 impeachment and securities fraud charges. Graham faced criticism over her admitted inexperience.
Early reporting counted six Republican Senate seats flipping Democratic. That secured control even without Democratic victories in competitive Michigan and Minnesota. Democrats also retained seats in Georgia and New Hampshire.
Initial House gains included at least eight Republican seats, spanning Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Democrats also captured governorships in Iowa and Ohio.
Trump responds as voters demand checks
Trump held more than two dozen late campaign rallies, supporting Paxton, Graham and Ohio’s Jon Husted. He repeatedly urged supporters to “pretend I’m on the ballot”.
As Republican losses mounted, he wrote: “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
A White House official described the mood around Trump as “defiant”. The official said he would resist the “radical left” regardless of the outcome.
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, the projected winner, told supporters:
“In sweeping and decisive victories, the American people have rebuked the depravity, corruption and incompetence of the man named President Donald J. Trump,”
In Florida, Republican Senator Ashley Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon. Her roughly three-point lead contrasted with Trump’s 13-point statewide victory in 2024, according to Reuters and USA Today tallies.
Democrats retained three redrawn Florida House districts that backed Trump by at least nine points.
SSRS exit polls for a media consortium, including the Associated Press, highlighted widespread discontent. Half of voters viewed the election as an opportunity to rebuke Trump. Three-quarters described themselves as “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the country’s direction. Another 70% wanted Congress to impose stronger checks and balances on the president.
