US MIDTERMS: Democrats capture Congress in sweeping setback for Trump

The 2022 US midterm elections resulted in a significant victory for the Democratic Party, marking a major setback for President Donald Trump. Tens of millions of voters expressed their discontent with Trump's economic policies, fuel price hikes, and the decision to initiate a war against Iran. The Democratic Party secured majorities in both the Senate and House, shattering Republican strongholds across the country.

In South Carolina, pediatrician Annie Andrews emerged victorious over Republican Senator Darline Graham, who had been appointed to the seat following her brother's death. Texas Democratic state Representative James Talarico triumphed against scandal-plagued Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. In Ohio, Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat since the Great Depression, while Sherrod Brown reclaimed a seat previously held by Vice-President JD Vance.

The Democratic wave extended beyond the Senate and House races, as Texas Governor Greg Abbott lost to Democrat Gina Hinojosa and Democrats captured governorships in conservative Iowa and Ohio. Florida's Republican Senator Ashley Moody narrowly lost to Democrat Angie Nixon, despite Trump carrying the state by 13 points in the 2024 election.

Voters' discontent with Trump was evident in their support for the Democratic Party, with 70% of surveyed voters expressing a desire for Congress to impose more checks and balances on the president. Half of the respondents reported that they saw the 2026 midterm elections as an opportunity to rebuke the president, while 75% acknowledged feeling "angry" or "dissatisfied" with the country's direction.