Democrats Win Senate and House Majorities in Sweeping Rebuke of Trump

Washington, United States. Democrats won majorities in both the Senate and the House on Tuesday, with victories extending far into Republican territory. The results amounted to a harsh verdict from tens of millions of voters on President Donald Trump.

A wave reaching conservative states

The full scale of the Democratic gains was still becoming clear, but the party won in states long considered beyond its reach, among them South Carolina, Texas and Iowa. Democrats flipped six Republican Senate seats in total, which secures them a majority even if they lose their own seats in the competitive states of Michigan and Minnesota.

Related: Democrats projected to win House and Senate in US midterm elections, with upsets in Texas and South Carolina

RelatedDemocrats projected to win House and Senate in US midterm elections, with upsets in Texas and South Carolina

Economy and the Iran war

The outcome reflected deep voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of the economy and with his decision in February to start a war against Iran, which sharply raised gas prices. Poll after poll showed voters worried about the cost of living and angry over how Trump has dealt with it.

Key Senate results

In Kansas, Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat there since the Great Depression, almost a hundred years ago.

In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown won a seat that Vice President JD Vance held two years earlier. In Texas, state Representative James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was dogged by scandal, despite heavy spending by outside groups. Trump won both Ohio and Texas by double-digit margins in 2024.

In South Carolina, which Trump carried by almost 18 points in 2024, pediatrician Annie Andrews beat Republican Senator Darline Graham. Graham had been appointed to the seat after the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham.

Trump’s role in the campaign

Trump had promoted Paxton and Graham over more established candidates, despite their evident weaknesses. Paxton has faced numerous controversies, among them his 2023 impeachment and securities fraud charges, while Graham drew negative headlines by acknowledging her lack of experience.

The president campaigned heavily for Paxton, Graham and Ohio’s Jon Husted in a late push that included more than two dozen rallies. He repeatedly urged supporters to “pretend I’m on the ballot” to energise his base.

As it became apparent on Tuesday night that Republicans risked losing their congressional majorities, Trump posted 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.”