Democrats take both chambers as voters punish Republicans

Midterm elections on Tuesday produced a decisive victory for Democrats, who seized control of both the House and the Senate.

The results marked a sharp rejection of Republican governance, driven by voter frustration over high prices, the war in Iran, and government corruption.

Democrats won statewide races in Texas and South Carolina, states that had voted Republican for decades and supported President Donald Trump by double digits two years prior.

James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in Texas, ending a thirty-year run of Republican control over statewide offices there.

In South Carolina, Annie Andrews upset Senator Darline Graham, a race in which Trump had actively campaigned for the Republican candidate.

Other key victories included Josh Turek in Iowa, Adam Hamilton in Kansas, Sherrod Brown in Ohio, and Roy Cooper in North Carolina.

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine lost to Democrat Troy Jackson, who has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and called for changes to US aid.

This win reflected a growing trend among Democrats to back candidates critical of Israel, a stance that has resonated with voters as support for the country has declined.

Abdul El-Sayed won an open Senate seat in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim senator, after defeating Trump-backed Mike Rogers.

Trump immediately sought to shift blame, posting on social media before polls closed on the West Coast that he was not on the ballot.

He wrote, "I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" and vowed to veto legislation from the new congressional majority.

In a late-night interview on Fox News, Trump said voters disliked the candidates but would accept the results, despite earlier warnings about noncitizen voting in Alaska and California lawsuits remain pending in those states and Florida redistricting efforts failed to secure additional seats for Republicans, while Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska remained uncalled early Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned that Republicans would not stand idly by as Democrats attempt to unwind their legislative record. House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is poised to become the first Black speaker, described the results as a cry for transformational change. Party leaders have signaled plans to investigate top administration officials and scrutinize how the Trump family has enriched itself. Impeachment of Trump and Cabinet members, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and former adviser Elon Musk, is being considered. Jeffries has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on lowering the cost of living and aggressive oversight. In the House, Democrats picked up multiple seats in Iowa, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania, and won new seats in Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Utah. The Iowa delegation, previously all-Republican, will now include three Democrats. Voters arrived at the polls with low approval of the country's direction. An AP Voter Poll found that about three-quarters felt angry or dissatisfied with the nation's trajectory and rated the economy poorly. Roughly half cited government corruption and the cost of living as key factors in their vote. In gubernatorial races across thirty-six states, Democrats Josh Shapiro, JB Pritzker, Wes Moore, Maura Healey, and Kathy Hochul won reelection. Gina Hinojosa defeated Texas Governor Greg Abbott in a stunning upset. Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia will become the first Black female governor of any state, and Byron Donalds of Florida became the first Black Republican elected governor. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy.