US midterm elections 2026: Democrats flip Senate and on track to take House in major rebuke of Trump agenda

The Democrats wrested control the US Senate and appeared on track to comfortably take control of the House of Representatives from Republicans, in a major rebuke of President Donald Trump's policy agenda. In the lower chamber of Congress, known as the House, Democrats gained at least seven seats and were on track for a comfortable House majority as more polls close. Republicans are on track to lose the speakership of the House to the first Black lawmaker to take the post, New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. In the Senate, where only a third of the 100 seats were contested, Democrats picked up at least six seats, giving them a 51 seat majority with the party on track to pick up additional seats as polls close. They can now block Trump's judicial nominees as well as funding for the US-Israeli war on Iran. (More details here on the difference between whether it's a simple majority or a gain of more than five seats). New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters As the results poured in, Trump took to social media to distance himself from Republican candidates, despite campaigning heavily for them. "I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump wrote on X. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal Trump said that the Iran war was partially to blame for the Democrats sweeping victory. "Iran was a piece of it," he said. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries hailed Tuesday's results as a “red, white and blue moment” in American history, saying the Democrats will deliver "dramatic change". Jeffries focused on affordability, rising prices and allegations of corruption among Trump's family and political allies, but notably he did not mention the US-Israeli war on Iran in his speech. “This is not a partisan moment. This is a patriotic one. This is not a blue moment or a red moment. It’s a red, white and blue moment because America has won tonight,” he said. This midterm election cycle was the most expensive of all time, with total spending reaching $11.6bn, according to Ad Impact. The Senate Pro-Israel lobbying groups alone paid out some $40m in support of candidates who ran against progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, both in the primary and the general election. El-Sayed's race was too close to call late on Tuesday night, but surprise Democrat victories in other states allowed the party to wrest control of the senate early. In a stunning and symbolic turn, the Democrats flipped a South Carolina Senate seat that was once held by Lindsey Graham. Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Graham's sister, Darline, to take the seat of the deceased senator who championed the war on Iran and Ukraine. Darline was endorsed by Trump. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated incumbent Republican Roger Marshall, making him the first Democrat to win the Kansas seat in almost 100 years. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek defeated his Republican rival Ashley Hinson in an unexpected victory. In deep Republican-red Texas, Trump-backed, scandal-plagued Ken Paxton lost to Democrat James Talarico, flipping a seat held by Republicans for more than 30 years. Talarico has endeared himself to Texans by highlighting his strong attachment to his Christian faith and also his support for Israel, while at the same time saying there should be conditions on the weapons the US sends there. Paxton was previously indicted for fraud and also impeached for corruption while in the state legislature, but never convicted. As Texas attorney general, he has been at the forefront of efforts to criminalise the country's largest Muslim civil rights organisation. The House An incoming contingent of younger progressives from deep-blue districts are all now headed to Congress. There are now enough of them to potentially delay or derail plans by more centrist Democrats in the House. They are largely political novices who carried the winning messages of the Zohran Mamdani campaign for mayor in New York City: a focus on affordability for working people and support for Palestinian rights. They have also refused to accept corporate money to fund their campaigns - a relatively risky move in a country where elections can be wholly decided on how much money a candidate has raised. Adam Hamawy, an Egyptian-American surgeon who gained national attention for his harrowing 2024 medical mission to Gaza, won New Jersey’s 12th district. Next door in New York, Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic Socialist who mounted a stunning upset when she defeated an incumbent in the state's 13th District earlier this year; state legislator Claire Valdez, also a Democratic Socialist who won the primary for the 7th District; and Brad Lander, a prominent Mamdani ally and former comptroller for New York City who won the primary for the 10th District, are all headed to Washington, DC, next year. In Pennsylvania's 3rd District, progressive Democrat and state legislator Chris Rabb is also headed to Congress, as is 29-year-old Ethiopian immigrant Melat Kiros in Colorado's 1st District. Fewer than two dozen House seats across the country were considered toss-ups this year based on the polling and voter sentiment in the days just before the election. Of the three Republicans who ran in districts that Democratic presidential contender Kamala Harris won in 2024, New York 17th District Congressman Mike Lawler was most at risk. So much so that Trump appeared to have summoned some anti-Zionist Jewish leaders from that district to the White House in a bid to rally support for Lawler, given their outsized influence. Lawler conceded the race on Tuesday night. Other toss-up races went the Democrats ways, contributing to their majority in the House. In Colorado's 8th district, Democrat Manny Rutinel defeated Republican incumbent Gabe Evans, according to CBS projections. Democrats take Texas Governorship In a stunning upset that underscored the extent of the Democrat's sweep Gina Hinojosa won the Texas governorship, ousting Greg Abbott after three terms. Texas is the most populous Republican state and a bastion of the party's power. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, making her the first Democrat to win the seat since 2006. The US midterm elections, particularly the first ones in a new president's term, are always seen as a referendum on the White House's conduct. Trump launched a war on Iran, alongside Israel, that has upended the entire region and skyrocketed fuel prices for Americans. Only three in 10 Americans now approve of Trump's conduct during his first two years, Pew Research revealed last month. Every two years, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and about a third of the 100-seat Senate are contested. Representatives serve two-year terms, while senators, who have a more senior role and are generally more prominent faces, serve six-year terms. Voter turnout suggested intense dissapointment within Trump's base and an energized Democratic electorate. The biggest increases in votes cast compared to the 2022 midterms came in places that former Vice President Kamala Harris won handily in 2024, according to data from Politico. Turnout was up 15 percent in counties Harris won by at least 70 percent in 2024, compared to just 7 percent in counties Trump won by 70 percent or more. For immigrants, and Arab and Muslim Americans in particular, the stakes were uncommonly high, as the administration cracks down on noncitizens, punishes criticism of Israel and pro-Palestine sentiment, and employs open, anti-Muslim verbiage - all moves that have dominated national headlines and radically reshaped how many minority communities go about their daily lives. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) played an especially active role in races, but their influence appeared diminished. In fact, in Michigan, early exit polling showed that El-Sayed received 60 percent of the votes from Jewish Americans who cast ballots before Election Day. Each state has two senators, regardless of size or population. House seats, however, are based on population distribution. There are no term limits. The 120th Congress will be sworn in on 3 January 2027.