Democrats win control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections

Nov 4, 2026

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the November 3, 2026 U.S. midterm elections, delivering a major defeat to President Donald Trump and Republicans. Driven by widespread voter frustration over high living costs and the military conflict with Iran, Democrats flipped Senate seats in conservative bastions including Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina. President Trump stated he would accept the results and work with Democrats, while warning he remains ready to use his veto power.

Democratic majorities and legislative priorities

▪House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries pledged that Democrats would prioritize affordability, reverse Medicaid cuts, and conduct oversight investigations into executive corruption
▪Democrats won majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in the midterm elections

Democratic victories in Senate races

▪Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's open Senate seat, becoming the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate
▪Thirty-year Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins lost her Maine Senate seat to Democratic challenger Troy Jackson
▪Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate election, securing the party's first statewide victory in over 30 years
▪In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham
▪Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall

Democratic gubernatorial election victories

▪Democrat Gina Hinojosa was elected governor of Texas, defeating incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott
▪Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Georgia gubernatorial election, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state

Voter sentiment in midterms

▪An SSRS exit poll on November 3, 2026 revealed that half of nationwide voters considered the midterm elections an opportunity to rebuke President Donald Trump
▪An AP and SSRS survey of midterm voters on November 3, 2026 showed three-quarters felt angry or dissatisfied with the country's direction under President Donald Trump, and 70% wanted Congress to provide more checks and balances

Donald Trump's post-election response

▪President Donald Trump stated in an interview following the November 3, 2026 midterms that he accepted the midterm election results and was prepared to work with Democrats in Congress
▪President Donald Trump warned that he would use his presidential veto power against legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress
▪President Donald Trump asserted on social media that Republicans would have won in a landslide on November 3, 2026 if his own name had been on the ballot

Financial market reaction to election results

▪Technology and artificial intelligence stocks across Asia declined as markets reacted to the Democratic midterm victory on November 4, 2026
▪U.S. Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar dipped on November 4, 2026 as financial markets reacted to Democratic control of Congress

Fallout from the war in Iran

▪The United States and Israel initiated a war against Iran in late February 2026, leading to Iranian military forces seizing control of the Strait of Hormuz and surging global oil prices
▪Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated on November 4, 2026 that American voters endorsed a message against war in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections
▪President Donald Trump acknowledged following the November 3, 2026 midterm elections that the U.S.-Israel war with Iran contributed to Republican electoral losses

Economic pressures and voter priorities

▪A November 1, 2026 Morning Consult poll showed 69% of registered voters prioritized healthcare affordability and 57% prioritized housing costs for the Trump administration
▪U.S. consumer prices rose faster than pay for six consecutive months leading up to November 2026, driven by rising energy expenses