Democrats seize control of Congress in historic midterm sweep

Democrats took control of both the House and Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, ending Republican dominance in the legislative branch. As of Wednesday morning, the party had flipped seven Senate seats and dozens of House districts that had been held by Republicans for years. The victory extended into traditionally red states, with surprising wins recorded in Texas and South Carolina.

The new Democratic majorities will take office in January. This shift gives President Trump's opponents greater institutional power to investigate the administration, challenge legislative proposals, and block judicial and executive nominees. Counting is still underway, but the University of Florida Election Lab reports that more than 124 million ballots have been cast. That figure surpasses the previous midterm record of nearly 119 million set in 2018.

President Trump offered mixed reactions as the results emerged. In an election-night interview with Fox News, he credited Democrats for working hard. In a separate phone interview with Politico, he argued that Republicans struggled to turn out his supporters because his name was not on the ballot. He also posted an image of a red hat bearing the word "VETO," emphasizing his authority to reject legislation passed by the new Congress. Despite the losses, he expressed a willingness to negotiate with Democrats.

Democrats must now determine who will lead their new majorities. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York currently hold leadership roles in the Senate and House, respectively. Both need support from their party colleagues to retain those positions. If elected speaker, Jeffries would become the first Black speaker in U.S. history. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed Jeffries, praising his leadership following the victory.

Two Senate races remain in contention. Contests in Mississippi and Alaska are considered too close to call as of Wednesday. The outcome of these races could further shift the balance of power in the upper chamber before the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3.