US midterm elections 2026: Democrats sweep House and Senate, deal Trump major blow; vow investigations, cost-of-living relief

Democrats have won control of both chambers of the US Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, delivering a major rebuke to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party and setting up a divided government for the final two years of his presidency.

The party flipped at least seven Republican-held Senate seats across traditionally conservative states and key battlegrounds, including Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina. Democrats also held on to crucial seats in Georgia and Michigan, securing at least 54 of the Senate's 100 seats.

You can follow all the latest developments, results and updates from the US midterm elections here

In the House of Representatives, Democrats flipped more than two dozen districts, including several that had voted for Trump by double-digit margins in the 2024 presidential election. Their majority in the 435-member chamber is now comfortably above the 218 seats required for control.

The sweeping victories give Democrats the power to block parts of Trump's legislative agenda, reject nominees, control congressional committees and investigate his administration. The results also mark a significant reversal of the Republican Party's grip on Washington after two years of unified GOP control.

Democrats have vowed to use their new majority to address voter concerns over the cost of living, including high prices of fuel and groceries, while pursuing investigations into the Trump administration and businesses with close ties to the president.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who could become the first Black speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2027, said the party had heard voters' demand for change.

"We hear you," Jeffries said, promising to "work hard to deliver on the dramatic change that you deserve".

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also pledged to make affordability a priority, saying: "Five words for the American people: Relief is on the way."

The results represent a nationwide rejection of the president's party, with Democrats making gains even in states and districts that Trump had comfortably carried in 2024. The scale of the Republican losses has also triggered questions about the party's leadership and its political strategy heading into the final years of Trump's term.

Democrats flip Republican strongholds, secure control of Congress

Democrats overcame a significant Republican fundraising advantage to secure victories across traditionally Republican states and districts that Trump had comfortably carried in 2024.

In the Senate, Democrats were projected to flip seats in Maine, Kansas, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa and Ohio. The gains handed the party control of the upper chamber, with the Michigan race also called in favour of Democrats.

Five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins lost her seat in Maine to Democrat Troy Jackson, who entered the race as a last-minute replacement for Graham Platner, whose campaign had been hit by controversy.

In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the closely watched Senate contest. His victory makes him the first Democrat to win a statewide election in Texas in roughly three decades.

The race attracted nearly $600 million in advertising spending by the two parties, according to AdImpact. Trump's feud with longtime Republican Senator John Cornyn contributed to Cornyn's defeat in the Republican primary, paving the way for Paxton's nomination. Several Republicans had viewed Paxton as a weaker candidate in the general election.

The Associated Press also projected Democrat Adam Hamilton to win in Kansas, marking the first time a Democrat had won a Senate seat in the state since 1932. Republican Senator Roger Marshall faced allegations of aggressive billing practices at his medical office and struggled with voter anger over rising diesel prices and Trump's tariffs, which he had supported.

Also Read: US midterms 2026 big wins and upsets: Amy Acton stuns Vivek Ramaswamy; Annie Andrews topples Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline

In Ohio, former Senator Sherrod Brown defeated Republican Senator Jon Husted. Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Representative Ashley Hinson in Iowa, taking another Senate seat previously held by the GOP.

In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers to win the Senate race and succeed retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. A former public health official, El-Sayed will become the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate.

His victory is also expected to strengthen the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, following a closely contested primary in which he defeated Representative Haley Stevens.

South Carolina delivered another major upset, with Democrat Annie Andrews defeating Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Darline Graham had been serving in the seat on a temporary basis, but Trump had urged her to contest it for a full term.

In North Carolina, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff also won re-election in Georgia, defeating Republican Representative Mike Collins, while Democrat Chris Pappas won in New Hampshire against former Senator John Sununu.

Democrats also made substantial gains in the House, winning races in Indiana, Iowa, Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, among other states. Several of the districts had backed Trump by double-digit margins in the previous presidential election, underlining the breadth of the shift in voter sentiment.

Democrats vow 100-day agenda, prepare investigations into Trump administration

With control of both chambers, Democrats are preparing an ambitious legislative and investigative agenda, with affordability expected to be among their first priorities.

House Democrats have promised a 100-day programme focused on lowering the cost of gas, groceries and other essential goods. Their proposed measures also include bills to reverse cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid healthcare programmes.

The party is also preparing to use its control of congressional committees to investigate the Trump administration and businesses perceived to have close ties to the president.

Democrats have indicated that impeachment proceedings against Trump or members of his Cabinet could also be considered.

Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, issued a warning to those who could face congressional scrutiny, saying: "Lawyer up."

Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, had a similarly pointed message: "Subpoenas."

The Democratic takeover is expected to bring increased scrutiny of companies that may have received preferential treatment in government contracts, merger and acquisition approvals and other regulatory decisions.

Deals involving Trump's business interests and family, along with donations to projects linked to the president, are also expected to come under scrutiny. These could include contributions towards the construction of a new White House ballroom.

The party will gain control of congressional committees and the House's legislative agenda, along with the authority to issue subpoenas and initiate impeachment proceedings.

However, Democrats will face pressure to demonstrate quickly that they can deliver solutions to voter concerns over high fuel and grocery prices, the war in Iran and the broader direction of the country.

For Jeffries and his leadership team, the victory will mark their first time in the House majority. They will also have to manage a diverse group of incoming lawmakers, including several progressive Democrats and democratic socialists.

Trump blames Iran war for Republican losses, threatens vetoes

Trump acknowledged the Republican losses in an interview with Fox News after the election outcome became clear, saying rising prices linked to the war in Iran were partly responsible for the results.

"Congratulations to the Democrats. They did a good job. They've been looking for this one for 11 years, and they finally got it. But I don't view it as a hit on me," Trump said.

The president defended his decision to launch the conflict, however, and said he had no plans to make changes to his Cabinet.

Trump watched the election results alongside Cabinet officials and advisers in the East Room of the White House. He also said he would accept the outcome, after having raised the possibility of widespread voter fraud without evidence ahead of the election.

Vice President JD Vance also sought to attribute the Republican losses to the war in Iran.

In a lengthy online post, Vance appeared to distance himself from the election results, which were widely viewed as a referendum on Trump's presidency.

"The reason we lost is the war," Vance wrote, adding: "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest."

The White House also sought to shift some responsibility for the losses towards Republican candidates. One administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump had done more to promote candidates than they had done for themselves.

Trump had personally backed several candidates in competitive races, including in Texas and South Carolina. His political disputes with fellow Republicans also contributed to the creation of several open Senate seats.

The president also criticised Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a longtime ally, calling him a "RINO", or Republican in Name Only, on social media.

"I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump posted.

Despite acknowledging the Democratic victory and suggesting he could work with the opposition, Trump warned that he would use his presidential veto to block legislation he disagreed with.

"They'll send over things that are insane, and I'll veto them. And after a couple of months of vetoes, they'll call and they'll say, 'How do we get this stuff done?' And we'll work together," he told Fox News.

In a separate interview with Politico, Trump struck a similar note of caution about the prospect of legislative gridlock.

"I don't want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything," he said.

The president will retain his executive authority over areas including trade, foreign affairs and immigration, as well as his veto power. Democrats will therefore need Republican support to pass most legislation or a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a presidential veto.

Republican leadership faces reckoning after midterm losses

The scale of the Democratic victory has also triggered a leadership crisis within the Republican Party, with House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly set to step aside from his position as the party's leader in the chamber.

Johnson will not seek re-election as House Republican leader following the Democratic victory, according to two people familiar with his plans who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The outcome leaves Republicans facing a difficult transition as they prepare to surrender control of the House and Senate. Johnson had previously joked that he could return to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, to start a lawn-care business if Republicans lost their majority.

The party is expected to hold internal leadership elections in the coming weeks as lawmakers prepare for the next Congress.

Republicans may also attempt to push through as much of their legislative agenda as possible during the remaining weeks of their congressional majority, before the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2027.

However, the prospects of passing another major Republican-only legislative package, similar to the tax breaks and spending cuts bill passed earlier, appear limited as defeated lawmakers prepare to leave office.

Conservatives had also been hoping that Trump could nominate another Supreme Court justice while Republicans still control the Senate. However, no sitting justice has announced any intention to step aside.

Meanwhile, the federal government could face another shutdown next month if Congress fails to pass a funding bill to keep government operations running.

The parties are expected to hold internal leadership elections as newly elected lawmakers arrive at the Capitol for freshman orientation. The House will elect its speaker as one of the first votes when the new Congress begins.

New Congress to welcome historic firsts

The Democratic sweep will also bring several historic milestones to the US Congress, with a number of lawmakers breaking long-standing barriers in American politics.

Democrat Julia Stratton of Illinois will become one of three Black women serving in the Senate for the first time in its history.

Democrat Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota will become the first Native American woman to serve in the Senate, while Chris Pappas of New Hampshire will become the first openly gay male US senator.

Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan will also make him the first Muslim to serve in the upper chamber.

The results have drawn comparisons with the voter backlash against the party in power during Trump's first presidency, when Democrats won control of the House in the 2018 midterms, and the Republican Tea Party movement that gained momentum during Barack Obama's presidency.

The incoming Congress will now face the challenge of translating the historic electoral mandate into legislative action while confronting a president who has signalled little willingness to abandon his policy priorities.

Markets retreat as investors assess divided government

Financial markets reacted to the prospect of a divided government in Washington, with investors reducing exposure to riskier assets.

S&P 500 futures fell by as much as 1.4% as uncertainty over the election outcome and the prospect of increased regulatory scrutiny weighed on sentiment.

Stocks also came under pressure amid concerns that an emboldened Democratic Congress could push for greater oversight of high-growth businesses, including companies involved in the artificial intelligence build-out.

US Treasury prices rose as investors anticipated that political gridlock could reduce the likelihood of additional government spending. The rise in bond prices and corresponding fall in yields also weighed on the dollar.

The Democratic sweep marks a significant change in Washington, with Trump facing a Congress controlled by the opposition party for the remainder of his term. The incoming Congress is expected to focus on affordability measures, investigations into the administration's decisions and business dealings, and resistance to parts of the president's legislative agenda.

Democrats make gains in gubernatorial races

Democrats also secured gubernatorial victories in several states, adding to the scale of their nationwide gains.

In Iowa, Democrat Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn, becoming the state's first Democratic governor in two decades. In Ohio, Amy Acton won the governor's race, while Michigan's Jocelyn Benson also emerged victorious, defeating her Republican challenger.

In Minnesota, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar won the governor's race, pledging to audit state government and improve public services. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also secured re-election, defeating Republican Christine Drazan.

In Nevada, Democrat Aaron Ford defeated incumbent Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. Ford, who currently serves as the state's attorney general, will become Nevada's first Black governor.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville won the Alabama gubernatorial election, defeating Democrat Doug Jones.