Democrats seize US Congress in crushing midterm blow to Trump: As it happened
Democrats have seized control of both chambers of the US Congress in a sweeping midterm victory, flipping seven Republican-held Senate seats and 25 House districts in a stinging defeat for President Donald Trump and his party.
According to the latest tally, Democrats hold 54 Senate seats to 44 for the Republicans, surpassing the 51 needed for control. In the House, Fox News reports 228 Democratic seats against 139 Republican seats, with 68 races still undecided and 218 needed for a majority. Republicans entered election night controlling both chambers.
The Republican losses reached deep into traditionally conservative territory. Democrats flipped Senate seats in Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, and Maine, including states Trump carried comfortably in 2024.
Democrats also overturned the GOP’s narrow House majority, flipping 25 districts, including gains in North Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. NBC News projects that Democrats could win 258 seats – matching their largest majority since Bill Clinton entered the White House in 1993.
The Democratic wave extended beyond Washington. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa ousted three-term Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Ohio Democrat Amy Acton defeated Trump-backed Vivek Ramaswamy. Democratic incumbents Josh Shapiro, JB Pritzker, Wes Moore, Maura Healey, and Kathy Hochul all secured reelection.
Trump congratulated the Democrats on their congressional takeover and offered to work with them – but warned that he will veto legislation he opposes until they come to the negotiating table.
“They’ll send over things that are insane, and I’ll veto them,” he told Fox News, signaling a potentially bruising two-year standoff with Congress.
The vote was shaped by anger over soaring living costs, inflation, and the economic fallout from the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has disrupted energy markets and driven up fuel prices. Trump blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for worsening diesel shortages and struck a deal with Moscow for additional supplies.
Funding for Israel and Ukraine has further fueled disputes over the Trump administration’s priorities. According to the AP Voter Poll, around three-quarters of voters were dissatisfied or angry with the country’s direction; eight in ten reported inflation-related hardship. Around six in ten believe Trump put his own interests ahead of the nation’s.
The Democratic takeover will hand the party control of congressional committees and investigative powers in January, threatening to stall Trump’s legislative agenda and subject his administration to closer scrutiny during his final two years in office. The results could also reshape the 2028 presidential field, giving Democratic hopefuls new momentum while complicating the ambitions of Vice President J.D. Vance and other Trump allies.
Amid widespread frustration with both major parties, calls for an alternative have resurfaced – though whether independents can capitalize on the discontent remains to be seen.
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04 November 2026
11:31 GMTRussia has struck a cautious note over the Democrats’ takeover of the US Congress, warning that the election results offer little prospect of improved relations with Washington.
“Let’s wait for the final results,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told RIA Novosti, noting that Democratic leaders remain “sharply negative” toward Russia.
He stressed that Moscow would not alter its position on Ukraine or broader foreign policy in response to the US elections.
“Our principled and consistent line regarding Ukraine [...] does not depend on the fluctuations of the political barometer in other countries,” Ryabkov said.
Trump’s efforts to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict have yet to produce a settlement, while Democrats have largely backed continued military aid to Kiev.
- 11:29 GMT
European right-wing leaders have blamed the Republican midterm rout partly on Trump’s broken promises to keep America out of foreign wars.
“Trump had promised his voters not to pursue an interventionist foreign policy,” said Germany’s AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. “This broken promise has now come back to haunt the Republicans.”
France’s National Rally leader Jordan Bardella echoed the criticism, arguing that Trump had abandoned his earlier pledge to withdraw from major conflicts.
He linked the US intervention in Iran to soaring oil prices and mounting economic pressure on American and European households, saying there was “most certainly a link” to the election results.
- 11:26 GMT
European politicians have welcomed the Democrats’ congressional takeover as a rebuke to Trump. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Americans had rejected policies that “only serve to impoverish people,” while Norway’s Jonas Gahr Store hailed a “powerful political signal,” citing closer alignment with Democrats on climate and foreign policy.
Ayer, la sociedad estadounidense votó contra las políticas que solo empobrecen. Contra el odio. Contra el machismo. Contra el negacionismo climático y contra los privilegios de las élites. Ocurrió en Brasil. Acaba de ocurrir en EEUU. Y ocurrirá pronto en España. La ola ultra a la que pretenden subirse Feijóo y Abascal ya no crece: se desmorona.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) November 4, 2026EU lawmaker Bernd Lange, however, warned that “a lame duck could quickly turn into an angry duck,” urging Europe to reduce its dependence on Washington.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken predicted political paralysis, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis warned of “impeachment and vetoes” for the remainder of Trump’s term.
European officials also cautioned that US protectionism and uncertainty over Ukraine and NATO would not vanish with the Republican defeat.
- 11:21 GMT
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the Democrats’ congressional victory, saying it could “introduce a new era in world relations.”
He expressed hope for better ties with Washington after a bitter dispute with Trump, who has accused Pretoria of discriminating against its white minority, which South Africa rejects.
The Trump administration has also excluded South Africa from US-hosted G20 meetings and moved to strip it of benefits under AGOA, a key African trade program.
- 11:19 GMT
Iran has hailed the Democrats’ midterm victory as a rejection of the Trump administration’s military interventionism, warning against continuing the US-Israeli war.
“Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X.
He warned that if Washington ignores voters to serve what he called foreign interests, “it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare.”
However, a shift in US policy remains uncertain, with Trump still in the White House and Democrats divided over Washington’s Middle East commitments.
Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message. If the US govt betrays their public will to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) November 4, 2026 - 09:02 GMT
Ian’s assessment was echoed by another RT guest, political commentator and ‘The Homeless Left’ host Matt Weinglass, who blamed the Republican midterm rout on Trump’s broken promises and mounting economic hardship.
“The American people have just had absolutely enough of the Trump regime,” he said, citing soaring living costs and Trump’s failure to deliver on pledges to avoid new wars and end the Ukraine conflict.
But Weinglass warned Democrats against celebrating, predicting “gridlock after gridlock” rather than meaningful change.
- 08:48 GMT
Democrats’ sweeping midterm gains reflect public anger over the economy and US foreign policy but are unlikely to change Washington’s geopolitical course, business and policy risk analyst Pye Ian told RT.
“It’s a huge mandate from the public here in the US” against government and economic failures, he said.
Ian argued that Democratic promises to challenge Washington’s military interventionism, particularly the war on Iran, would remain largely rhetorical.
“Who’s actually in charge?” he asked, calling elections “a massive, very effective distraction” from the influence of unelected elites. The analyst predicted continued confrontation with Iran regardless of which party controls Congress, arguing that Washington seeks to contain growing Eurasian integration.
- 08:48 GMT
Democrats have also dominated gubernatorial races across 36 states, flipping Republican strongholds and giving Trump another election-night headache.
In Texas, Gina Hinojosa ousted three-term Republican Governor Greg Abbott, while Ohio Democrat Amy Acton defeated Trump-backed Vivek Ramaswamy after his campaign faced backlash over an ad targeting her family.
Democratic incumbents Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, JB Pritzker in Illinois, Wes Moore in Maryland, Maura Healey in Massachusetts and Kathy Hochul in New York all secured reelection.
Analysts say the results could reshape the 2028 presidential field, strengthening potential Democratic contenders while complicating the ambitions of Vice President JD Vance and other Trump allies.
- 08:48 GMT
Democrats have won control of the US House of Representatives, securing 228 seats against Republicans’ 139 in the latest count – surpassing the 218-seat majority threshold with 75 races still undecided.
Democrats previously held 215 seats, compared with 220 for the Republicans. NBC News projects the Democrats could win as many as 258 – matching their largest majority since Bill Clinton took office in 1993.
If the projection holds, Democrats would surpass the 257 seats they held when Barack Obama entered the White House in 2009, leaving Republicans with just 177.
The takeover will give Democrats control of House committees and investigative powers when the new Congress convenes in January – promising a considerably less comfortable second half of Trump’s presidency.
🇺🇸🗳️⚡️ Democrats Surge in US Midterms, Securing Major Gains Across the Country 🔹 Senate: Democrats reach 54 seats, flipping 7 seats, while Republicans hold 44. Two independents caucus with Democrats. 🔹 House: Democrats lead 228–139, flipping 25 seats, with 218 races still outstanding. 🔹 Governors: Democrats lead 28–20, gaining 5 governorships.
— Multipolar Report (@Multipolar_RPT) November 4, 2026 - 08:48 GMT
The US Senate is set for another first: Democrat Chris Pappas has become the first openly gay man elected to the chamber, defeating Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire.
The 46-year-old congressman will replace retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, keeping the seat in Democratic hands while adding a new chapter to Washington’s changing political landscape.
During his victory speech, Pappas thanked his husband, Vann Bentley, who stood beside him on stage.
The Senate has had openly LGBTQ members, including Tammy Baldwin, Kyrsten Sinema and Laphonza Butler. But in its 237-year history, no openly gay man had been elected to the chamber.
