Democrats deliver major blow to Trump as party takes control of Congress

A growing wave of frustration with Donald Trump has reshaped American politics, with Democrats making historic gains in the 2026 midterm elections and taking control of both chambers of Congress.

The results represent a significant setback for the US president, whose Republican Party has lost ground in traditionally conservative strongholds, including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina.

For Democrats, the victories offer an opportunity to challenge Trump’s administration after two years in which Republicans controlled Congress and faced limited pressure to hold the president accountable.

The election also sends a broader message about the issues influencing American voters, with rising living costs, the controversial war with Iran and concerns about political corruption emerging as major campaign talking points.

Perhaps the most striking development was the scale of Democratic victories in states that have traditionally supported Republicans.

Texas delivered one of the biggest surprises, with Democrats ending a decades-long losing streak by winning a Senate seat and defeating three-term Governor Greg Abbott.

Kansas also made history by electing its first Democratic senator since the Great Depression, nearly a century ago.

In South Carolina, where Trump secured a convincing victory in the 2024 presidential election, Democratic candidates managed to defeat his preferred Senate candidate.

The results suggest that even voters in traditionally Republican territory are becoming increasingly willing to reconsider their political loyalties.

Democratic gains were particularly noticeable in predominantly Latino communities, including agricultural areas in Kansas and border counties in Texas.

In Seward County, Kansas, where approximately half of eligible voters are Hispanic and a major beef processing industry provides employment, Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton led Republican incumbent Roger Marshall by 13 percentage points.

This represented a dramatic shift from 2024, when Trump carried the same county by 39 points.

While Republicans attempted to focus attention on cultural and social issues, Democrats concentrated their campaign on the financial pressures facing ordinary Americans.

The party criticised Trump’s tariff policies and military involvement in Iran, arguing that both had contributed to rising costs.

Democrats also questioned the growing wealth of the president’s family since his return to the White House, making corruption and political accountability central campaign issues.

Republicans, meanwhile, attempted to portray their opponents as radical, particularly on issues involving transgender rights and other cultural debates.

However, election polling suggested that voters were more concerned about their household finances and the direction of the country.

Exit polls conducted by SSRS for a consortium of US media organisations found that half of voters viewed the midterm elections as an opportunity to express dissatisfaction with Trump.

Approximately three-quarters said they were angry or dissatisfied with the direction of the country, while 70% wanted Congress to exercise stronger checks and balances over the president.

Taking control of both the Senate and House of Representatives will significantly change the political landscape in Washington.

Once the newly elected lawmakers take their seats in January, Democrats are expected to use their congressional majorities to investigate Trump’s administration, family members and political allies.

The party will also have greater influence over major legislative decisions and the ability to block presidential nominations.

Control of the Senate could prove particularly important if a vacancy arises on the US Supreme Court, as Democrats would have the power to challenge or reject Trump’s nominees.

The victories also represent a significant shift from the previous two years, when Republicans controlled Congress and rarely used their legislative authority to challenge the president.

Trump’s personal involvement in the election campaign appears to have created additional difficulties for Republicans.

The president spent the final weeks campaigning across the country, encouraging supporters to treat the midterms as a personal referendum on his leadership.

He also intervened in Republican primary contests to support candidates he believed would strengthen the party’s chances.

In Texas, Trump backed state Attorney General Ken Paxton against incumbent Senator John Cornyn.

In South Carolina, he supported Darline Graham following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham.

Both candidates ultimately lost.

Even Republican politicians who attempted to distance themselves from Trump struggled to retain support.

In Maine, longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins lost her seat, bringing her 30-year Senate career to an end despite highlighting her willingness to disagree with the president.

One of the election’s most notable individual victories came in Michigan, where progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won the state’s open Senate seat.

His victory makes him the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.

El-Sayed defeated former congressman and FBI agent Mike Rogers, who had Trump’s backing and attempted to portray the Egyptian-American candidate as a religious extremist.

Addressing supporters after his victory, El-Sayed said: “You chose hate, and Michigan chose hope.”

His election adds another historic moment to an already significant night for Democrats.

Despite the scale of the Democratic victories, the political picture is not entirely settled, with competitive Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska still awaiting final results early on Wednesday.

Trump has also rejected the suggestion that the results represent a personal defeat, arguing on social media that Republicans would have won comfortably had he been on the ballot.

However, he acknowledged in media interviews that the conflict with Iran had contributed to his party’s losses, while continuing to defend his decision to enter the war.

Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin welcomed the results, crediting the party’s focus on affordability, working-class concerns and political accountability.

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