Democrats Take Both Chambers of Congress in Midterm Sweep Against Trump

Democrats secured majorities in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, ending Republican control of Congress for the first time in years and complicating the final two years of President Donald Trump's term.

Projections showed Democrats with at least 54 Senate seats and more than 230 House seats, with some races still counting. They flipped at least seven Senate seats, including in Texas, South Carolina, Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa, and Maine. Texas had not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988. Kansas had not done so since the Great Depression.

Exit polls indicated that 74 percent of voters viewed the Iran war as a crucial or major factor in their decision. Sixty-two percent said using military force against Iran was the wrong decision. Gallup data from the week before the election showed 77 percent of registered voters ranked the situation in Iran as extremely or very important, alongside the economy and healthcare.

President Trump told The New York Times he was absolutely willing to accept the results and prepared to work with Democrats. He also said the Iran war had been worth it and contributed to the losses. Vice President JD Vance wrote that the reason Republicans lost was the war, and that supporters of the war would have to reckon with surrendering control of Congress.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not seek the Republican minority leader post. Democratic leaders indicated they would pursue war powers resolutions on Iran, investigations into administration spending and decisions, and challenges to tariffs and other executive actions. They lack the two-thirds majorities needed to override a veto.

In Texas, James Talarico won the Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa became the first Democrat elected governor in 36 years. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim senator. Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman governor, winning in Georgia. Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman governor in New Mexico.

The results also produced historic firsts in several other races and shifted control of multiple governorships. Markets reacted with a rise in equities and a drop in oil prices as traders assessed the new congressional balance.

The new Democratic majorities will not take formal control until January 2027. Until then, the current Republican leadership retains procedural power, though the scale of the losses has already altered the political incentives around the Iran war and domestic spending.