The Democratic Party has taken control of both chambers of the United States Congress following the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, delivering a major political setback to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
The victory gives Democrats control of the House of Representatives and the Senate for the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency, potentially limiting his administration’s legislative agenda.
According to results reported by the BBC on Wednesday, Democrats had secured a majority in the House, although vote counting was still ongoing in several states.
Figures available at the time of filing showed Democrats with 194 seats against Republicans’ 115 in the House. In the Senate, Democrats had secured 52 seats, while Republicans had 40.
The Democrats also recorded significant victories in several closely contested Senate races, flipping Republican-held seats in Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio, while retaining their seats in Georgia and New Hampshire.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state since 1988.
In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham, making history as the first woman elected to represent the state in the US Senate and the first Democrat to win a Senate seat there in more than two decades.
Democrat Roy Cooper also defeated Republican Michael Whatley in North Carolina, while Sherrod Brown reclaimed Ohio’s Senate seat after defeating Republican incumbent Jon Husted.
The outcome represents a major reversal for Republicans, whose control of Congress had given Trump’s administration considerable legislative advantage.
The midterm elections determine the composition of the US Congress, comprising 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 senators. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats were contested in Tuesday’s elections.
With Democrats now controlling both chambers, Trump’s administration is expected to face increased congressional scrutiny, as the opposition party gains control of key committees and greater investigative powers.
Democrats could initiate investigations into the president, members of his family and controversial policies and decisions of his administration.
Reacting to the Republican losses, Trump sought to distance himself from the outcome, arguing that his absence from the ballot contributed to the party’s poor performance.
“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
However, in a subsequent interview with The New York Times, Trump said he was prepared to accept the results and work with the Democratic leadership.
“We’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out,” he said.
The Associated Press reported that Trump had endorsed several Republican candidates who lost their races, including Paxton in Texas and Graham in South Carolina.
Midterm elections are traditionally viewed as a referendum on the performance of an incumbent president, often determining whether the governing party retains congressional control or loses ground to the opposition.
The Democratic takeover means Trump will face an opposition-controlled Congress during the final two years of his second term, setting the stage for possible legislative battles, investigations and heightened political tensions in Washington.