Democrats Capture House and Senate in Midterm Rebuke to Trump

Democrats took control of the United States Senate and House of Representatives on November 3, 2026, after voters flipped seats across Republican strongholds and delivered a clear rebuke to President Donald Trump.

Media outlets projected Democratic majorities in both chambers by early November 4. In the Senate, Democrats flipped at least six seats previously held by Republicans, including in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa and Maine. James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in Texas to become the state's first Democratic senator in 38 years. Adam Hamilton won in Kansas, the first Democratic Senate victory there since 1932. Annie Andrews defeated the Republican candidate in South Carolina. Sherrod Brown took the Ohio seat. Josh Turek won in Iowa. Troy Jackson defeated Susan Collins in Maine.

In the House, Democrats flipped more than two dozen Republican-held seats. They secured the majority with a projected total around 231 seats while Republicans held roughly 139, with dozens of races still uncalled. The results extended to governorships. Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican Greg Abbott in Texas. Democrats also won governorships in Iowa and Ohio.

Exit polls conducted for major networks and the Associated Press showed half of voters saw the election as a chance to rebuke the president. Three-quarters expressed anger or dissatisfaction with the country's direction. Voters cited high prices, the ongoing conflict with Iran, and concerns over government actions as primary drivers. Turnout among Democrats and independents proved decisive in both swing states and traditionally Republican areas.

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader, stands poised to become the first Black speaker of the House. In the Senate, Chuck Schumer described the outcome as a generational remake of the map. Trump, speaking to outlets, said he accepted the results and did not view the losses as a personal hit, noting he was not on the ballot. He had campaigned extensively in the final weeks.

The new Democratic Congress will confront Trump's remaining agenda for the rest of his term. Control of both chambers gives Democrats the ability to set the legislative calendar, hold oversight hearings, and block or reshape executive proposals. The shift ends unified Republican control that had existed since the start of the administration.

Specific numbers continue to firm as final counts arrive from remaining districts. As of November 4 morning, projections held firm across multiple outlets including Reuters, the Associated Press, CNN and NPR. The scale of the gains exceeded most pre-election forecasts, particularly in states Trump carried by double digits in 2024.

The outcome resets the balance of power in Washington. Democrats now hold the levers of the legislative branch while the executive remains in Republican hands. Future legislative battles over budgets, foreign policy and domestic spending will proceed under divided government for the first time in several years.