Democrats seize Congress in midterm wave as Trump blames his absence
Voters turned against President Trump and the GOP, giving Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
Election outcomes
Democrats have taken control of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in this year’s midterm elections, a result described as a “resounding rebuke” to President Trump and the Republican Party.
The party added seven Senate seats, winning in states that had long been considered Republican strongholds, including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina. In addition, Democrats secured several governorships and captured a number of House seats that had been redrawn to favor Republicans.
Trump’s campaign strategy and reaction
In the months leading up to the vote, Trump held a series of rallies across swing and red states, urging supporters to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” The goal was to boost Republican turnout in the lower‑turnout midterms.
When results showed Republican losses, Trump posted on social media that the party lost “in spite of” him and claimed that if his name had appeared on the ballot, Republicans would have won “in a landslide.” In a Fox News interview after midnight, he said he does not view the outcome as a personal referendum, adding that “we’ve had the greatest two years in the history of the presidency” regarding the economy and other achievements.
Public sentiment on Trump
Approximately two‑thirds of Americans blamed Trump for “higher‑than‑usual prices,” according to a September AP‑NORC poll.
His approval rating has been on a steady decline, with many polls placing it below 40%.
Implications for the new Congress
With Democrats poised to lead both chambers, they are expected to pursue an aggressive oversight agenda. Colorado Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, newly appointed chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said he will “take on the Trump Crime Family, corporate corruption, DHS and ICE abuses, and the cover‑up of the Epstein files,” and warned opponents to “lawyer up.”
Come January, the Democratic Congress will confront a president whose second term has been marked by unilateral actions, including sweeping tariffs, expanded ICE deployments in U.S. cities, and an ongoing war in Iran.
The shift in power sets the stage for heightened partisan battles and potential investigations into the Trump administration’s policies and conduct.
