Democrats sweep US midterms, seize control of Congress in major blow to Trump
Democrats were projected to take control of both chambers of the US Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, delivering a major political setback to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
The sweeping victories mark a dramatic shift in Washington’s balance of power and threaten to constrain Trump’s legislative agenda during the final two years of his presidency.
Democrats made significant gains in traditionally Republican strongholds, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, South Carolina and Iowa, with the party flipping at least six Republican-held Senate seats and winning at least 15 additional House districts, according to US media projections.
The results pointed to widespread voter dissatisfaction with the Trump administration, particularly over economic pressures, rising living costs and the war against Iran, launched by the United States and Israel in February.
Democrats break Republican dominance in key states
One of the most significant victories came in Kansas, where Democrat Adam Hamilton won a Senate seat, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent the state in the chamber since the Great Depression.
In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown reclaimed a Senate seat previously held by Vice President JD Vance, overcoming Republican opposition in a state Trump won by a double-digit margin in 2024.
Texas also delivered a major upset, with Democratic state Representative James Talarico defeating Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a closely watched Senate contest.
In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham, marking another major breakthrough in a state Trump carried by nearly 18 percentage points in 2024.
Democratic gains extended beyond Congress. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican Governor Greg Abbott, while Democratic candidates also secured gubernatorial victories in Iowa and Ohio.
Historic breakthrough in Georgia
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms made history by becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a US state after defeating Republican businessman Rick Jackson in Georgia.
The former Atlanta mayor also became the first woman and first Black person elected governor of Georgia, marking a significant political breakthrough in the traditionally competitive southern state.
Bottoms, who served as Atlanta mayor from 2018 to 2022 and later advised former President Joe Biden, campaigned on expanding Medicaid, addressing housing affordability and opposing several Trump administration policies.
Her victory was particularly significant for Democrats, who had not won a gubernatorial election in Georgia since 1998.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff secured re-election, further strengthening the party’s position in the state.
Speaking to supporters, Ossoff described the results as a rejection of the Trump administration, accusing the president of corruption and incompetence.
Trump blames fuel prices for Republican losses
Trump acknowledged the scale of the Republican setbacks, suggesting that higher gasoline prices linked to the war against Iran had contributed to voter dissatisfaction.
Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, the president said voters might support his approach towards Tehran but were unwilling to accept the immediate economic consequences.
“People agree with what I'm doing on Iran, but they really probably weren't willing to do the short-term consequence of paying ... more for gasoline,” Trump said.
He described the higher fuel costs as a temporary burden that would bring long-term benefits.
Trump also warned that US forces could “finish the job” if Tehran failed to cooperate, while maintaining that a diplomatic agreement remained possible if it imposed binding restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The president reiterated his position on US assistance to Israel, arguing that the country had become wealthy enough to no longer require approximately $4 billion in annual American aid.
Responding to the election results, Trump congratulated opposition candidates for their campaigns and expressed willingness to cooperate with the incoming Democratic majorities on several issues, including immigration.
He also told Politico that although he retained the constitutional power to veto legislation, he preferred working with lawmakers rather than spending the next two years blocking bills.
Earlier, Trump dismissed the impact of his absence from the ballot, writing on social media: “I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won in a landslide!”
Tehran welcomes anti-war message from American voters
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf welcomed the Democratic victories, interpreting the results as a rejection of the war against Iran by American voters.
“Whether out of conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message,” Qalibaf wrote on X on Wednesday.
He warned Washington against betraying the will of its citizens to serve what he described as international interests and pressure groups, saying such a move would lead to a “nightmare”.
His comments came as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued, with Qatar maintaining its mediation efforts between the two countries.
Iran said earlier this week that it was still exchanging messages with the United States through intermediaries. Tehran has also insisted that reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on Washington ending its naval blockade.
New political reality for Trump
The projected Democratic takeover of Congress represents one of the most significant political challenges of Trump’s presidency, giving the opposition greater influence over legislation, committee leadership and Senate confirmation proceedings.
The election results also signal that the administration’s policies on the economy, energy costs and Iran could become central political battlegrounds during the remainder of Trump’s term.
With Democrats preparing to assume control of both chambers, Washington faces a new political reality in which Trump will have to negotiate with an emboldened opposition to advance his domestic and foreign policy priorities.
Source:AA
