Trump trumped by Democrats

US President Donald Trump has suffered a stunning political defeat as Democrats swept to control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, overturning Republican dominance in Washington and setting the stage for two years of intense confrontation with the White House.

The victory also produced a historic breakthrough for Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.

The 42-year-old progressive Democrat declared victory in Detroit early on Wednesday, saying voters had chosen an America that was big enough for everyone despite a campaign marked by Islamophobic attacks from Trump and his allies.

“You took a chance on the unlikeliest of candidates,” El-Sayed told the crowd in his election night speech.

“You welcomed me in your homes, your churches, your synagogues.”
The Democratic victory in both chambers represents a major reversal of the political balance established after Trump’s return to the White House in 2025.

Republicans had entered the elections controlling Congress and were expected to retain their advantage. Instead, Democrats made substantial gains in traditionally Republican territory, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina.

According to the latest reported Associated Press projections, Democrats had secured 228 of the 435 House seats, against 139 for Republicans, with 367 races called at the time of reporting.

The remaining 68 contests were yet to be called. Democrats had already exceeded the 218 seats required for a House majority and flipped at least 25 Republican-held districts.

In the Senate, Democrats secured 54 seats against 44 for Republicans, with 33 of the 35 contested races called. The party flipped seven Republican-held seats, including victories in Michigan, Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina, giving it a decisive majority in the 100-member chamber.

The results mean Democrats will take control of Congress when the new lawmakers assume office in January 2027, leaving Trump to govern the final two years of his presidency without a Republican majority in either chamber.

The scale of the Democratic advance was particularly striking in states that had supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Texas and Kansas, long considered Republican territory, delivered major Senate victories to Democrats, while Iowa, Ohio and the Carolinas also contributed to the opposition’s congressional breakthrough.

Economic dissatisfaction emerged as the central factor behind the Republican defeat.

Inflation, expensive groceries, housing costs and rising petrol prices had become major concerns for American households, undermining Trump’s promises to improve economic conditions.

The Associated Press Voter Poll found that voters were increasingly frustrated with the administration’s failure to deliver on its economic commitments.

Around seven in 10 believed Congress was not doing enough to provide checks and balances on presidential power.

The Iran war further damaged the Republican position. The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched in February, contributed to higher energy prices and uncertainty over the wider economic consequences of the conflict.

Trump himself acknowledged that the conflict had contributed to the defeat. “I think a part of it was Iran,” he told Fox News, while telling The Wall Street Journal that “Iran was a piece of it”.

However, he defended his military decision, saying: “I did the right thing. I would have done it again.”

Trump congratulated the Democrats but rejected the suggestion that the election represented a personal repudiation. “The Democrats did a good job. They fought hard,” he said.

He also suggested that Republican candidates, rather than his policies, were responsible for the losses. Even he blamed his favourite cable channel Fox News for the losses.

However, the Democratic victory will fundamentally change the political environment for the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency.

With control of both chambers, Democrats will have greater authority to investigate the administration, summon officials for congressional hearings, demand documents and scrutinise government spending and executive decisions.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer indicated that his party would pursue its agenda regardless of presidential cooperation. “We’re going to deliver for the people of America with or without the president,” he said.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the next Speaker, said Democrats could simultaneously challenge the administration and pursue legislation benefiting ordinary Americans.

The new majority could obstruct Trump’s legislative priorities, delay appointments and investigate controversial decisions involving immigration, trade, federal agencies and the Iran war.

However, the president retains executive authority and the power to veto legislation. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers, which Democrats do not possess.

Consequently, the remaining two years could be characterised by congressional investigations, budget disputes, legislative deadlock and an increasingly difficult relationship between the White House and Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, the outcome attracted international attention, particularly among countries whose relations with Washington have been strained under Trump.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said American voters had rejected policies that impoverished people, hatred, sexism, climate denial and privileges enjoyed by elites.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the outcome as a powerful political signal, saying emerging American voices were closer to Norway’s positions on climate, foreign policy and development assistance.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed hope that the result would open a new chapter in relations between Pretoria and Washington.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf welcomed the Democratic victory, writing on X: “Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, however, warned against expecting a fundamental change in American policy towards Tehran.

He described those anticipating an end to US hostility following the political shift as “gravely mistaken” and warned that renewed American attacks would provoke a much wider response.

The Democratic sweep has changed the balance of power in Washington at a particularly sensitive moment for American domestic and international politics. The election has removed the congressional support for Trump.

The election result has created an opportunity for Democrats to demonstrate that they can provide effective opposition while delivering on voters’ economic expectations.

The president will remain in office until January 2029, but his ability to govern without congressional resistance has been dramatically weakened.

The midterms have not ended Trump’s presidency. They have ensured that its final two years will be fought on a very different political battlefield.