Democrats win control of Congress as Republicans lose Senate seats in red states

Democrats take both chambers

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, 3 November, flipping seven Senate seats and more than two dozen House seats. Shortly after polls closed, they began winning closely watched Senate races. Before midnight the Associated Press projected that Democrats would hold the Senate majority, and less than two hours later they had secured the House.

By 9am Belgian time on Wednesday, 4 November, 7sur7 reported 225 House seats for Democrats against 136 for Republicans, with 361 of 435 seats confirmed. The same count gave Democrats 54 Senate seats against 43 for Republicans, with 32 of 35 Senate contests confirmed at that point. The results were sweeping, as states and districts that voted for Trump two years earlier turned against his allies, and Republican incumbents in comfortably red areas such as Florida faced close races.

Senate: Democrats54

Senate: Republicans43

House: Democrats225

House: Republicans136

Senate: Democrats

54 seats

Senate: Republicans

43 seats

House: Democrats

225 seats

House: Republicans

136 seats

Data from the article text

With both chambers, Democrats gain the authority to push back on Trump's agenda, although he keeps his presidential veto. A La Libre commentary argued that the harder task lies ahead, since voters expect concrete results on inflation and the cost of living.

Republicans lose seats in Kansas, South Carolina and Texas

Kansas elected a Democrat to the Senate for the first time in 94 years, when Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor with a Republican past, beat incumbent Roger Marshall, a former gynaecologist with close ties to Trump. With 91% of votes counted, AP projections had Hamilton ahead by about 6 percentage points. Democrat Cindy Holscher was also very close to winning the governorship against Trump ally Ty Masterson.

In South Carolina, Annie Andrews, a 45-year-old paediatrician, defeated Darline Graham, the sister of the late senator Lindsey Graham and a Trump ally whom the president had campaigned for several times. Lindsey Graham died suddenly in July, and Darline Graham's selection to succeed her brother had split South Carolina Republicans. Andrews became the first Democratic senator elected in the state since 1998.

In Texas, James Talarico, a progressive Democratic newcomer, beat Ken Paxton, the state's conservative attorney general, ending a 38-year Republican streak. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won one of the night's most closely watched races despite a campaign against him that was largely Islamophobic.

Trump's reaction and the war in Iran

Trump has dismissed the results as a response to his presidency. He said he was not on the ballot but would have "won in a landslide" had he been, after telling voters to act as though he were still running. In a phone interview with Fox News, he said the war in Iran was partly responsible for the Republican defeat. He also described Democrats as having done a good job and fought hard, while stressing that he still holds his veto.

Reactions and the road ahead

Barack Obama welcomed the result on X on Wednesday morning, writing that voters had sent a clear message in favour of a politics that brings people together and of leaders offering concrete solutions. He praised candidates from his party and the thousands of volunteers and representatives of both parties who ran a smooth vote. Obama said the next two years would be demanding and called on Democrats to get to work with the powers they hold.

La Libre noted that Elon Musk spent half a billion dollars on the campaign, and argued that money did not sway the ballots. The outlet's commentary said Democrats must avoid reopening culture wars and resist the temptation of political revenge, while preparing for the 2028 presidential race and balancing their centrist and left wings.