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

Washington, United States. US media outlets projected that Democrats won back both the House and the Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, which decide who controls Congress during the last two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. The party’s gains extended well past the usual battleground states and into Republican strongholds.

Pre-election expectations

Opinion polls before the vote indicated a considerable chance of a strong night for Democrats. The party was seen as the favorite to retake the House and was contesting the Senate. The size of the gains suggested a possible blue wave reaching deep into territory normally held by Republicans.

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Senate upsets

In Texas, Democrat James Talarico routed Republican Ken Paxton and became the state’s first Democratic senator-elect in 38 years. Democrats had long hoped to turn the state blue.

In South Carolina, Annie Andrews defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham. Democrats had not won a US Senate race in the state this century, and the result was another defining upset of the night.

In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown prevailed. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton comfortably beat Republican incumbent Roger Marshall. The last time Democrats took a Senate seat in Kansas was in 1932, during the Great Depression.

Challenges ahead

Control of Congress could prove a mixed blessing for Democrats. Voters are likely to expect the party to tackle their economic worries rather than simply stand against Trump. Its ability to pass legislation will be restricted, however, because the president keeps his veto power. Trump could also argue that Democrats now share at least equal responsibility for the condition of the economy.