Trump dealt full-blown repudiation as Democrats seize control of Congress in midterms

Democrats take both chambers

By early Wednesday, Democrats were projected to win 54 Senate seats, while Republicans were projected to win 42. In the House, Democrats had secured 224 projected victories compared with 134 for Republicans.

CNN and Fox News projected Democratic control of Congress while millions of votes remained uncounted. Dozens of races were still unresolved, and their outcomes could determine the size of Democrats’ majorities and their influence in the new Congress, which assembles in January.

A sharp political reversal

The results reversed the political landscape of two years earlier, when Trump won the popular vote and carried swing states. The president’s party typically loses ground in midterms, but both chambers have shifted to the opposing party in the same midterm only three times since World War II. Northeastern University political science professor Costas Panagopoulos called the outcome “a full-blown repudiation of Trump and GOP policies.” Fox News host Sean Hannity said, “I wish it was two years ago.”

Senate races reshape map

In Texas, James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, becoming the state’s first Democrat elected to the Senate in more than three decades. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton unseated Senator Roger Marshall, ending a 94-year Democratic losing streak in the state.

CNN projected that Troy Jackson would defeat five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine. The Associated Press projected early Wednesday that progressive Abdul El-Sayed would defeat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan; Haley Stevens, El-Sayed’s former primary opponent, had endorsed Rogers at the last moment.

House and governor contests

In Virginia, former Democratic Representative Elaine Luria reclaimed her seat from Representative Jen Kiggans, while Shannon Taylor defeated longtime Republican Representative Rob Wittman. Democrats needed fewer gains to take the House majority, but early projections indicated a broader victory.

Democrats also flipped Republican-held governorships in Texas, Georgia and Ohio. In Ohio, Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy faced backlash over a controversial political advertisement.

Trump responds, races remain

Trump congratulated Democrats but stopped short of accepting blame. He argued that Republican candidates had failed to motivate his supporters, despite urging his base to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” On Fox News, Trump said Democrats had “fought hard” and described their struggle against him as longstanding. He also said the parties could “get along very well,” while warning he would veto legislation he considered “insane.”

Attention now turns to unresolved contests, including Alaska’s closely watched Senate race. Mail-ballot deadlines and the state’s ranked-choice voting system could delay its outcome for days.