KUALA LUMPUR – Democrats have scored a sweeping victory in the US midterm elections, taking control of both chambers of Congress in a major rebuke of President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
The results give Democrats control of the House of Representatives and Senate, allowing them to block Trump’s legislative agenda, scrutinise his administration and investigate allegations of corruption during the final two years of his presidency.
The election outcome reflected widespread voter dissatisfaction over the rising cost of living, Trump’s tariffs, the war against Iran and concerns about government corruption.
Despite his previous history of challenging election results, Trump struck a conciliatory tone when asked about the Democrats’ gains.
“I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” he told The New York Times, adding that he was prepared to “work with the Democrats.”
However, the 80-year-old president subsequently signalled his intention to resist the opposition’s legislative agenda, posting an image of a red baseball cap bearing the word “VETO” on social media.
Democrats made significant breakthroughs in traditionally Republican territory, with victories in Kansas, Iowa, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio.
In Kansas, Methodist minister Adam Hamilton defeated Republican incumbent Roger Marshall, becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the conservative state since 1932.
Iowa also swung towards the Democrats, with Josh Turek defeating Republican congresswoman Ashley Hinson. The state had not elected a Democratic senator since 2008.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Senate race, while Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent governor Greg Abbott, ending decades of Republican control of the state’s top office.
Other notable victories included Annie Andrews in South Carolina, Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Roy Cooper in North Carolina, where he secured an open Senate seat.
Democrats also retained key positions in the upper chamber, with Jon Ossoff winning re-election in Georgia after defeating Republican Mike Collins.
In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas defeated former senator John Sununu to succeed retiring Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen.
Republicans previously held a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but the Democrats’ gains were sufficient for major US media networks to project a change in control.
The party was also closing in on a House majority after flipping Republican-held seats across several states.
Among the defeated Republicans were Tom Kean in New Jersey and Ryan Mackenzie, Scott Perry and Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania. Democrats also secured previously Republican-held open seats in North Carolina and Kentucky.
The results marked a significant shift in political momentum, particularly as Republicans had poured millions of dollars into defending districts and states that Trump comfortably won in 2024.
Republicans lose ground in strongholds
The scale of the Democratic advance was particularly evident in Republican strongholds, where several candidates overcame Trump’s backing and campaign efforts.
In Indiana, Democrat J.D. Ford defeated Republican congresswoman Victoria Spartz in a district Trump had carried by 17 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
The result was among the clearest indications that voter dissatisfaction had spread beyond traditionally Democratic areas.
Democrats also made gains in state-level contests. In Georgia, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in US history.
Republicans, however, managed to secure some victories in Florida, where Trump-backed Byron Donalds won the governorship to become the state’s first Black governor. Ashley Moody also retained a Senate seat.
George Washington University professor Todd Belt described the Democratic performance as “a big wipeout and a strong repudiation of Donald Trump and his policies”, pointing to concerns over the economy, corruption and the conflict with Iran.
Trump faces two years of resistance
Democratic control of Congress is expected to significantly constrain Trump’s ability to advance his legislative priorities.
The party will be able to block legislation, launch congressional investigations into his administration’s handling of the Iran war and immigration enforcement, and use its Senate majority to obstruct judicial appointments and other senior nominations.
Democrat Robert Garcia, who is expected to lead the powerful House Oversight Committee, issued a warning to Republicans on social media, writing: “LAWYER UP.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, meanwhile, declared that Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement was “on the run from sea to shining sea”.
Jeffries could also become the first Black speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes in January, subject to a vote by his colleagues.
Trump sought to distance himself from the Republican losses, arguing that his absence from the ballot had contributed to the outcome.
“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” he wrote on his social media platform.
The election results followed a campaign dominated by economic concerns, with voters expressing frustration over inflation, household expenses and the administration’s priorities.
“Rent, groceries, utility bills, and property taxes keep climbing,” 24-year-old Los Angeles voter Taylor Cook told AFP.
An Associated Press voter poll also found widespread dissatisfaction with the country’s direction, with roughly three-quarters of respondents describing themselves as either angry or dissatisfied.
Around three-quarters rated the economy as “not so good” or “poor”, while about eight in 10 said inflation had caused moderate or severe financial hardship for their households.
Corruption and the cost of living emerged as major considerations, with roughly half of voters identifying both as crucial factors in their congressional vote.
Around six in 10 respondents also said Trump prioritised his personal interests over those of the country.
Despite the Republican setbacks, the Democratic Party itself remained relatively unpopular, with fewer than half of voters expressing a favourable opinion of it, compared with about four in 10 for the Republican Party.
The results nevertheless give Democrats a powerful platform to challenge Trump’s administration and reshape the political landscape in Washington ahead of the next presidential election. – November 4, 2026