Democrats Take Control of US Congress as Voters Reject Trump’s Republicans

Democrats have won control of both chambers of the United States Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, delivering a major electoral setback to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The results, announced on Wednesday, November 4, followed a series of unexpected Democratic victories in traditionally Republican states, as voters raised concerns about the economy, rising living costs and the direction of the country under Trump’s leadership.

The victories give Democrats control of the House of Representatives and the Senate for the first time since 2022, ending two years of Republican control of Congress. The change is expected to significantly affect the president’s ability to advance his legislative agenda during the remaining two years of his second term.

One of the biggest surprises came from Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Senate race, ending a 38 year period without a Democratic Senate victory in the state. Democrats also secured significant victories in Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa and North Carolina, overturning Republican held seats.

In South Carolina, Democrats achieved a historic Senate victory in a state where the party had not won a Senate election this century. The results highlighted a wider shift in voter support, including in areas that had strongly backed Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

The cost of living emerged as one of the biggest issues influencing voters. Exit polls indicated that nearly nine in 10 voters considered living costs a major factor in their decisions, while three-quarters said they were angry or dissatisfied with the direction of the country.

Democrats had focused their campaign on affordability, inflation and concerns about government corruption, while criticising Trump’s trade tariffs and handling of the economy. Republicans, meanwhile, concentrated on cultural issues and defended the administration’s policies, but struggled to overcome voter dissatisfaction.

Trump had played an active role in the Republican campaign, attending rallies and urging supporters to treat the election as a vote on his presidency. Following the results, he said he would accept the outcome and indicated that he was prepared to work with Democrats, although he warned that he could veto legislation he considered unreasonable.

The Democratic victories will give the party greater influence over congressional investigations, government spending and legislation. Democrats will also have the power to block some presidential appointments through their Senate majority, creating a more challenging political environment for the White House. The election marks a significant shift in Washington, with Democrats preparing to take control of Congress when the newly elected lawmakers begin their terms in January 2027.