Democrats sweep House and Senate as Trump's approval dips to 36%
Voters punished Republicans over economic concerns and deportation policies, with Democrats gaining control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterms.
By Allison Rojas ·
Democrats captured both the House and the Senate on Tuesday night, marking a decisive shift in congressional power. The victory exceeded expectations, with the depth of Democratic gains indicating a broad rejection of the current Republican administration rather than a narrow procedural win.
Public sentiment drove the results. A joint poll by broadcast networks and the Associated Press found that 62% of voters disapproved of President Trump's job performance. His average approval rating had fallen to 36% following the Iran war. Additionally, 75% of respondents described themselves as angry or dissatisfied with the nation's direction. Two-thirds of voters stated that Trump's policies worsened economic conditions, while 62% believed the president prioritized personal interests over national ones.
Redistricting efforts failed to protect Republican seats. President Trump encouraged conservative states to redraw maps to secure House majorities, a strategy that backfired in Texas. Democrats flipped two congressional districts in the state, both of which Trump won by at least 14 points in 2024. The party also secured the governorship and lieutenant governorship. Senator James Talarico won by 12 points, or 1.1 million votes, becoming the first Democrat to represent Texas in the Senate since 1988. Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa won by 7 percentage points, a margin of nearly 700,000 votes. Republicans spent over $413 million on the Texas Senate race and lost.
Hispanic voters played a decisive role in the Texas outcome. In 2024, Trump lost this demographic by only five points. By this election, 68% of Hispanic respondents disapproved of how Immigration and Customs Enforcement handled its duties. This shift turned Texas, a state with 40 electoral votes, into a competitive battleground for the 2028 presidential cycle. Democrats also won races in other red states, suggesting a potential expansion of their presidential map beyond traditional blue states.
Democrats now hold the keys to Congress but face structural hurdles. The party does not have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, limiting its ability to pass legislation without Republican cooperation. President Trump signaled resistance by posting an image of a red hat with the word "VETO" on his social media platform just before midnight. New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who may seek the majority leader role again, promised that relief is on the way. However, the party must balance governance with messaging, as Democrats hold a 47% favorable rating compared to 41% for Republicans.
Polls generally captured the direction of the election but underestimated the scale of Democratic support. The national generic congressional ballot favored Democrats by about 8 percentage points in pre-election polling. The final result appears to have been at least 18 points higher. This suggests a political realignment that traditional polling methods struggle to predict accurately.
