Democrats Sweep Congress, Seizing Both Chambers in Historic Midterm Rebuke

Democrats seized control of both the Senate and the House in Tuesday's midterm elections, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations as voters delivered a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump.

The Senate majority was secured after Democrat Josh Turek won the race in Iowa, bringing Democrats and independents who caucus with them to 51 seats, according to Associated Press calls reported overnight. The Associated Press announced the House outcome at about 1:28 a.m. ET on Wednesday, flipping a chamber Republicans had held since 2023.

Republicans entered the night with a 53-47 Senate majority, meaning Democrats needed a net gain of at least four seats to take control. They cleared that bar and then some, flipping seats in states including Texas, Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Iowa.

Once seated in January, Democrats are expected to use their new power to investigate the Trump administration, its officials and allies, and to demand concessions on major legislation. A Democratic Senate can also block presidential nominees, including for any Supreme Court vacancy that arises in the final two years of Trump's term.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is in line to become Speaker, which would make him the first Black person to hold the post, taking over from Republican Mike Johnson. The new Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027. Final seat totals were still being counted on Wednesday morning, and the results reported here reflect race calls, not certified final tallies.