'Let’s get to work': Democrats celebrate Congress takeover as key races turn blue

Democrats are projected to take control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate following a series of victories in midterm elections. According to ABC News (US), the party flipped at least six Senate seats, including in Kansas and South Carolina, and at least a dozen House seats. Reuters Business via SCMP describes the results as a blue wave that serves as a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump.

ABC News (US) reports this shift was propelled by discontent with the economy and the president, noting that a poll conducted by ABC News, the Washington Post, and Ipsos showed Trump's disapproval rating at a record high of 62%.

The Democratic sweep included wins in several governorships in traditionally Republican strongholds, including Iowa, Texas, Ohio, and Georgia, according to Chalkbeat. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican incumbent Greg Abbott. In her victory speech, Hinojosa stated that the era of treating public schools as if they were for sale has ended. Chalkbeat reports that Democratic candidates in Iowa and Texas gained ground by criticizing universal voucher programs and promising increased spending on public schools.

Congressional Democrats have pledged to protect the Education Department and hold Education Secretary Linda McMahon accountable for agency cuts, Chalkbeat reports. While Democrats have developed a plan for their first 100 hours of House control, they still face barriers to advancing their agenda, according to ABC News AU.

Brief written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News, Chalkbeat, Reuters Business via SCMP, ABC News (US), ABC News AU — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.