US midterm voters deliver rebuke to Trump
Democrats captured the Senate and House of Representatives, giving them the power to block legislation, launch investigations into Trump's administration and thwart his appointments.
Donald Trump faced a major political setback on Wednesday after US midterm elections saw the Democrats seize control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, marking a significant rebuke of his presidency. The Republican, 80, experienced a personal humiliation as his party's dominance crumbled in his heartland, driven by discontent over rising energy prices and his ongoing conflict with Iran.
The Democrats' victory signaled an end to Trump's grip on US politics and granted them the authority to obstruct legislation, investigate his administration, and challenge his appointments.
Victories were seen across the country, with Democrats gaining seats in South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Texas, and Maine. Notably, Troy Jackson, a former logger, defeated the long-standing Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton, a Methodist minister, became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the conservative state since 1932.
Iowa had not elected a Democratic senator since 2008. In Texas, the Democrats secured both a Senate seat and the governor's race, marking the end of Republican rule. Democratic wins also included Jon Ossoff in Georgia and Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress in Michigan.
The Democrats made gains in key states like Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Arizona, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and New Jersey, areas where Trump had previously won comfortably. Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, became the first Black woman governor in US history, securing the Democratic victory in Georgia. Trump's Republican-backed candidate, Byron Donalds, retained his position as the first Black governor in Florida, while Ashley Moody retained her Senate seat.
Despite these Democratic gains, Republicans managed to hold onto Florida and other traditionally Republican strongholds.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries declared the MAGA movement "on the run," potentially becoming the first Black speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes in January. Trump, on social media, claimed Republicans would have won "in a landslide" if he had run, and threatened to use his veto power on bills passed by the Democratic-led Congress.
Russia expressed hope that Trump would continue his peace efforts, while China pledged to continue working with the US. Iran's supreme leader, Khamenei, indicated no expectation of a change in US policy in response to the election results.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
