Democrats seize House and close in on Senate as midterms deliver major rebuke to Trump

Washington, November 4 - Democrats emerged victorious in the House and were on track to wrest control of the Senate in the midterms, delivering a significant rebuke to Donald Trump's presidency, according to projections by CNN and CNBC. The elections served as a national verdict on Trump's tumultuous second term, with discontent over living costs, tariffs, and the US war against Iran fueling Republican losses as his approval ratings plummeted near record lows.

A notable upset occurred in South Carolina, where Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Trump-backed Darline Graham, marking the first time Democrats won a Senate seat in the state since 1998. In North Carolina, former governor Roy Cooper, unaided by Trump, secured a win over a candidate handpicked by the President. The party also secured crucial Senate seats in Georgia and New Hampshire, with Jon Ossoff and Chris Pappas becoming the first openly gay man elected to Congress, respectively.

Republicans entered the election with a 53-47 Senate majority, necessitating four net gains for Democrats to take control. Momentum was on Democrats' side, with House results indicating substantial Republican setbacks, including a Democratic victory in an Indiana district Trump had won by a significant margin in 2024. The party also flipped a Republican-held House seat in North Carolina, while Florida's redrawn electoral boundaries did not yield the gains Republicans anticipated.

In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, secured the governorship, becoming the first Black woman elected to the position in US history, ending 24 years of Republican control. Despite Republican successes, such as Florida Governor Byron Donalds and the retention of a Senate seat by Ashley Moody, these victories came after tight races.

Trump's White House responded defiantly to the election outcome, warning that they would resist the "radical left" regardless of the results. The Democratic victory in the House will grant congressional committees the power to investigate various issues, including the Iran war, mass deportations, and allegations of corruption, complicating Trump's legislative agenda and upcoming judicial appointments.