Democrats win both chambers of Congress, leaving Trump five weeks to push his agenda

Democrats take both chambers

Democrats will control the House of Representatives and the Senate from January, after the midterm elections held on Tuesday, 3 November. Reports describe a sharp rejection of Donald Trump and his party, and the most sweeping midterm rebuke of a sitting president since 1974. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico won the Senate race, the first Democratic Senate win in the state since 1988. Democrats also prevailed in Kansas and South Carolina, states long seen as Republican strongholds. A 41-year-old voter in Round Rock, Texas, said he had backed Barack Obama in 2008 and Trump in 2024 but switched back to the Democrats this year, citing the Iran war and the economy.

Trump's reaction and the Iran war

Trump said he wanted to work with Democrats after the defeat. At a White House event he argued that the war in Iran had helped Democrats win because fuel prices rose, though he described the increase as temporary. He blamed everyone but himself for the loss. Trump also named Stephen Miller as the new White House chief of staff, a move that House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned in harsh terms. JD Vance has set out a platform for the next presidential race that distances him from Trump's military course in Iran, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly considers stepping down to seek the nomination himself.

Five weeks before the handover

Republicans return to Washington on Monday, 9 November, for what coverage calls their last big legislative fight before Democrats take over. Congress is expected to sit for five more weeks until the end of the year, and power changes hands on 3 January. Some Republicans want lawmakers to stay in the capital through weekends and holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Florida Senator Rick Scott made that case on Fox News. The party's chances depend on unity, attendance and internal disagreements, not only on the time left.

Funding the Iran war and the Pentagon

The Pentagon has warned that it urgently needs new funding to replenish munitions and weapons used in the war with Iran, especially precision-guided weapons. Some Republicans are weighing a route that would pass much of their agenda through budget reconciliation. That procedure allows certain budget bills to pass without the 60 Senate votes that would otherwise let Democrats block them. Democrats in Congress have demanded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth resign over the Iran debacle. Trump has called Hegseth's work fantastic, but it is not certain he will keep backing him.

Jeffries and the question of cooperation

Hakeem Jeffries, who is set to become House speaker in January, must decide whether his party will work with Trump. According to a Politico analysis cited in coverage, that is the hardest decision he faces. Many Democrats want a full political fight, while newly elected members from traditionally Republican districts want to test cooperation. People close to Jeffries acknowledge he may soon need a different tone, since Democrats pledged to lower the cost of living ahead of the 2028 presidential election, or at least to show voters they are trying.

Investigations and the Justice Department

From January, Democrats plan investigations into Trump, his family and senior officials. Trump asked the Justice Department to intervene and accused Democrats of attempted blackmail. He wrote on Truth Social that America had taken a giant step backward but would return bigger and stronger than ever. Justice Minister Todd Blanche has pledged to defend members of the administration who may be targeted. Robert Garcia, the Democratic leader on the House oversight committee, accused Blanche of acting as Trump's personal lawyer.

Record number of women elected

At least 159 women will serve in the new Congress, 29.7% of federal lawmakers, a new record. Women are still underrepresented given that they make up more than half the US electorate, and some races remain uncounted. At least 31 Black women and 26 Latinas are set to serve, beating records of 30 (set in 2024) and 21, and at least three Native American women will join them. In state government, 18 Black women are taking top executive posts, half of them in Georgia.

Black women31

Latinas26

Native American women3

Black women

31 women

Latinas

26 women

Native American women

3 women

Data from the article text