The Democratic Party has won control of both chambers of the United States Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, dealing President Donald Trump a major political setback and setting the stage for a contentious final two years of his presidency.
The Democrats’ victories in the House of Representatives and the Senate will give the opposition party greater power to challenge Trump’s policies, scrutinise his administration and potentially launch investigations into his government.
The election results also mark a significant shift in the balance of power in Washington, with Democrats making unexpected gains in traditionally Republican strongholds, including Texas, Ohio and Kansas.
Other notable victories were recorded in Maine, Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina, states that had largely remained outside the Democrats’ reach in recent election cycles.
One of the biggest upsets came in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton to secure a Senate seat, marking the first Democratic victory in a Texas Senate race since 1988.
Talarico, a former schoolteacher who rose to prominence during his campaign, made the rising cost of living a central issue, blaming Republican leadership for the economic pressures facing American households.
Paxton, who sought to portray his opponent as too progressive for Texas, received support from Trump and campaigned alongside the president on several occasions.
Reacting to the Republican losses, Trump acknowledged that the Democrats had performed well, while admitting that the war involving Iran and rising fuel prices contributed to his party’s poor showing.
The president, however, maintained that he would have secured a decisive victory if his name had been on the ballot.
Speaking to CBS, Trump’s US media partner, he expressed willingness to work with congressional Democrats, saying he did not want to spend the remaining two years of his presidency rejecting their legislative proposals.
However, he later appeared to strike a more confrontational tone by posting an image of his trademark red baseball cap bearing the word “VETO” on his Truth Social platform.
The Republican defeat comes less than two years after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, when his party enjoyed unified control of Congress.
Although Democrats had anticipated making gains in the House, their prospects in the Senate had appeared more challenging, given the number of Republican-leaning states involved in the election.
The outcome could significantly constrain Trump’s legislative agenda, as Democrats will now have greater influence over congressional proceedings, government spending and oversight of the executive branch.
It could also reopen discussions about a possible third impeachment attempt against the president, although such a move would face significant political and constitutional hurdles.
