Democrats take control of US Congress as voters reject Trump’s Republicans

Democrats have captured majorities in both chambers of the United States Congress, recording sweeping victories in the 2026 midterm elections as voters delivered a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump.

The scale of the Democratic wave was still emerging on Tuesday night, but the party secured victories in states previously considered beyond its reach, including traditionally Republican strongholds such as South Carolina, Texas and Iowa.

The results reflected widespread voter frustration over Trump’s handling of the economy and his decision to launch a war against Iran in February, which contributed to a sharp rise in fuel prices. Polls throughout the campaign showed voters increasingly concerned about the cost of living and dissatisfied with the administration’s economic policies.

Democrats flipped six Republican-held Senate seats, securing a majority even if they lose their own seats in closely contested Michigan and Minnesota.

In Kansas, megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat in nearly a century to win a Senate seat in the state.

In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown reclaimed a seat previously held by Vice President JD Vance. Texas state Representative James Talarico also defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, overcoming substantial outside spending and controversies surrounding his opponent.

Both Ohio and Texas had backed Trump by double-digit margins in the 2024 presidential election.

Democrats also scored a major victory in South Carolina, where paediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham. Graham had been appointed to the seat following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham.

Trump had backed Paxton and Graham over more established Republican candidates despite the controversies surrounding both.

Paxton faced scrutiny over his 2023 impeachment and securities fraud charges, while Graham’s acknowledged lack of experience attracted negative attention during the campaign.

Trump campaigned extensively for Paxton, Graham and Ohio Republican Jon Husted in the final stretch, holding more than two dozen rallies and urging supporters to “pretend I’m on the ballot”.

As the scale of Republican losses became clearer on Tuesday night, Trump responded on social media, saying he would have won “IN A LANDSLIDE” if he had been on the ballot.

The president’s intervention did little to prevent Democrats from making gains across the country.

Democrats were also projected to take control of the US House of Representatives after flipping at least eight Republican-held seats in states including Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina.

The party also performed strongly in districts considered solidly Republican, suggesting the electoral shift extended beyond competitive areas.

Democrats recorded further victories in gubernatorial races, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a three-term Republican incumbent, losing to Democrat Gina Hinojosa. The party also captured governorships in Iowa and Ohio.

In Florida, Republican Senator Ashley Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon but held a lead of only about three percentage points in a state Trump won by 13 points in 2024, according to vote counts compiled by Reuters and USA Today.

Democrats also retained three Florida House districts that Republican lawmakers had redrawn earlier in the year. All three districts had voted for Trump by at least nine percentage points in 2024.

At a victory party in Georgia, incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who was projected to win re-election, described the results as a decisive rejection of the president.

“In sweeping and decisive victories, the American people have rebuked the depravity, corruption and incompetence of the man named President Donald J. Trump,” Ossoff told supporters.

Exit polls conducted by SSRS for a consortium of US media organisations, including major television networks and the Associated Press, indicated widespread dissatisfaction among voters.

About half of those surveyed said they viewed the 2026 midterm elections as an opportunity to rebuke Trump, while three-quarters said they were either angry or dissatisfied with the direction of the country.

The polls also found that 70 per cent of voters wanted Congress to provide stronger checks and balances on the president.

The results mark a significant shift in the balance of power in Washington, giving Democrats control of both chambers of Congress and setting the stage for increased scrutiny of the Trump administration.