Democrats win both chambers of Congress in US midterms, and a Texas Senate seat flips

Democrats take both chambers of Congress

Democrats won control of the House and the Senate in the midterm elections held on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. An Associated Press count cited by one article gives the party 54 Senate seats so far, with contests in Alaska and Mississippi still undecided, while 244 House seats were reported in another account. Projections suggest the Democratic House caucus could exceed 260 members once counting ends, which would be its largest presence since 1990, when it won 267 seats.

Counting continues in several states. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola led Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan by just over 600 votes with 74% of ballots counted, and the final result could take weeks. A CBS poll cited by one article put Trump's approval at 38%, and 89% of voters called the cost of living an important or decisive factor. Anger over tariffs and the war with Iran, which pushed up fuel prices, also weighed on voters.

Texas and a wave of firsts

In Texas, James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton, the state's attorney general, who had the backing of President Donald Trump. Republicans had held both of the state's Senate seats since 1993, and Talarico is the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Texas since 1988. He will serve alongside Ted Cruz from January, when the newly elected members take office, while Cruz's own term runs to 2031.

Cruz, speaking on his Verdict podcast, described the defeat as a rebuke on the scale of Watergate and called the result a blue tsunami. He blamed voters' frustration with the cost of living, citing higher prices for food, gasoline, diesel and insurance, and he also criticised tariffs and the long war in Iran. Cruz said he had called Talarico to congratulate him.

Elsewhere, Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor, defeated Republican senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, ending a Senate drought for Democrats there that dated to 1932. Abdul El-Sayed is set to become the first Muslim senator. Georgia elected its first Black woman governor, and Gina Hinojosa is set to become the first Latina governor of Texas. Transgender candidates were also elected in six states for the first time, according to Notícias ao Minuto.

Trump, Hegseth and the Iran war

Trump accepted the results and said he was open to cooperating with Democrats, while rejecting the idea that the outcome was a personal defeat. He acknowledged that the conflict with Iran contributed to the losses. Pressure has grown on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to step down, but Trump has shown no sign that he will sacrifice him, despite voter discontent over the war.

Vice President J.D. Vance, once seen as Trump's likely heir, blamed the Iran war for the defeat in the aftermath and distanced himself from the president. On Wednesday, 4 November, former House Republican leader Newt Gingrich said Vance is no longer the 'inevitable' nominee for 2028 and that a surprising number of people may now see an opening. House Speaker Mike Johnson is set to leave his post when the new Congress convenes.

Democrats' plans and the 2028 race

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House, said on Wednesday, 4 November, that the new majority will focus on affordability and accountability and will no longer act as an extension of the Trump administration. Democrats will control the federal budget, chair congressional committees and, through the Senate, decide which Trump nominees for national security and diplomatic posts are confirmed. Experts cited by RTP say the lack of a veto-proof majority could limit Democrats' ability to reverse Trump's tariffs.

Democrats have already asked that all official documents and records be preserved, and impeachment of Trump is not being ruled out. The new Congress takes office in January 2027.

The 2028 race has also opened up. Trump is barred by law from seeking another term. The presidential election is set for 7 November 2028, and the first Democratic primaries are scheduled for 22 January 2028 in South Carolina. Republicans traditionally begin in Iowa in the same month, although that date is not yet officially fixed, and candidate announcements could start from January 2027.