US Midterms: Democrats Win Senate, Close In on House Control
Democrats have won control of the United States Senate and are projected to retake the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections, delivering a major setback to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
The victories mark a significant shift in Congress, where Republicans had controlled both chambers before Tuesday’s elections.
In the Senate, Democrats secured key victories in Texas, South Carolina, Kansas, North Carolina and Ohio, flipping several Republican-held seats.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state since 1988.
South Carolina also recorded a historic result as Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham. Andrews’ victory marks the first time a Democrat has won a Senate seat in the state since 1998.
In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley, while former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown reclaimed his Ohio seat by defeating Republican incumbent Jon Husted.
Democrats also retained key seats, including those held by Jon Ossoff in Georgia and Chris Pappas in New Hampshire.
The Associated Press reported that the Democratic Party had secured control of the Senate, while results in the House pointed to a Democratic majority. Counting was still continuing in several House races as reports emerged.
The midterm elections, held on Tuesday, November 3, determine the composition of Congress, which comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats were contested.
The outcome is a major political setback for Trump, whose party now faces the prospect of losing control of both chambers during the final two years of his presidency.
A Democratic-controlled Congress could increase scrutiny of the administration through investigations and congressional hearings, while making it more difficult for Trump to advance his legislative agenda.
Reacting to the Republican losses, Trump sought to distance himself from the results, blaming his absence from the ballot.
“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
However, during a phone interview with The New York Times on Tuesday night, Trump said he was willing to accept the election outcome and work with Democrats.
“We’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out,” he said.
The Associated Press reported that Trump had endorsed several Republican candidates who lost their races, including Paxton in Texas and Graham in South Carolina.
The midterm elections are traditionally viewed as a referendum on the sitting president’s performance, with the results determining how much influence the governing party retains in Congress.
By Oluwafemi Shodipe.
