Democrats take control of US Congress in midterms, a sharp defeat for Trump

Democrats take the House

Democrats won majorities in both chambers of Congress in the US midterm elections, with counting still incomplete when the first reports appeared early on 4 November. Adnkronos reported that the party could pass 240 of the 435 House seats once all votes are counted. Il Sole 24 ORE reported at least 235 Democratic seats, against 214 before the vote and the 218 needed for a majority. House Democrats under Hakeem Jeffries, who would be the first African American to hold the speakership, would be able to launch wide oversight and investigations of the Trump administration.

Before the vote214

Majority threshold218

Reported as of early 4 November (at least)235

Before the vote

214 seats

Majority threshold

218 seats

Reported as of early 4 November (at least)

235 seats

Data from the article text

Senate seats flip in Republican strongholds

Democrats flipped at least six Senate seats, and possibly seven, according to Il Sole 24 ORE, more than the four they needed. The most symbolic result came in Texas, where James Talarico beat Republican Ken Paxton by nearly 20 points, according to Adnkronos. ANSA reported that Talarico became the first Democrat elected to the Senate in Texas since 1988. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton won the seat, the first Democrat to take it since 1932. In South Carolina, Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham, sister of the late senator Lindsey Graham and a candidate Trump had personally picked, in a state Republicans had dominated without interruption for 28 years. Democrats also won in North Carolina with Roy Cooper, in Ohio with Sherrod Brown over Jon Husted, and in Iowa with Josh Turek.

Governors and the remaining races

Republicans also lost influential governorships, according to Il Sole 24 ORE. Democrat Gina Hinojosa beat Governor Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term, and ANSA reported she would be the first Democrat to lead Texas since Ann Richards in the 1990s. In Ohio, Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in the governor's race. In Georgia, Jon Ossoff was re-elected to the Senate, and Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governorship, becoming the first Black woman to hold the office in the state. Reports differed on Maine, where ANSA stated that Troy Jackson had beaten Susan Collins, while La Stampa described Collins as still running close at the time of writing.

Trump's reaction and the causes cited

On Truth Social, Trump wrote that he had not been on the ballot and that he would have won by a landslide had he been. He told the New York Times he absolutely accepts the results and said he expects to find common ground with Democrats. He told CBS he would use his veto power to block Democratic legislation, and he posted an image of a red cap reading Veto. According to ANSA, Trump said the defeat was not related to the government and was partly the responsibility of the war in Iran, and he said no changes would be made to his administration. Trump also signed a proclamation on election day establishing an Anti-Communism Week from 1 to 7 November, and he attacked Fox News commentator Jessica Tarlov on Truth Social. Open cited the cost of living, the war in Iran and the administration's excesses as factors in the result.

What comes next

The outgoing Congress keeps its current majority for about two more months, and the new Congress is due to convene on 3 January, according to La Stampa. In an email to supporters sent on the night of the vote, Trump asked for donations and warned that Democrats would openly seek his impeachment. He described his second term as roughly at its midway point. Il Messaggero commentary argued that Trump could raise the stakes after the defeat, citing immigration and Iran, and could rely more on executive orders.