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The 2026 US midterm elections will go down in history for the Democrats' dramatic takeover of both houses of Congress but also for a surge of historic firsts for women, LGBT, Black and Native American candidates, as well as the election of the first Muslim US senator.
This is the first time in 20 years that a Republican president has lost both houses of US Congress.
Democrats flipped seats that had long been held by Republicans in a wave of historic leadership firsts.
Democrats have dominated the US midterm elections and are set to take both the House of Representatives and the Senate giving them a swathe of new powers. After the new Congress is sworn in on January 3, they will be able to block partisan legislation, and the US President's picks for roles like Supreme Court Justices - plus, they will have the authority to subpoena documents and witnesses. So what do the Democrats hope to do with their newfound powers? Eliza Herbert takes a look.
US voters on Tuesday handed the Democratic Party control over Congress in a biting rebuke to President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement. Polls suggest that rising anger about the cost-of-living crisis partly set off by the president’s decision to launch the US-Israeli war on Iran played a crucial part in the Democrats’ historic victory.
PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, November 4: US papers react to the results of the midterm elections, with Democrats retaking control of Congress and the headlines running from a "repudiation" of US President Donald Trump to a "blue tsunami". We also look at the historic firsts celebrated by the local press, the blame game already under way, and what the results mean for Trump's final two years in office.
Democrats seized control of the US Congress on Tuesday, capturing the Senate and House of Representatives in a stunning, nationwide rejection of Donald Trump. France 24's Wassim Cornet says it is "impossible to overstate" the scale of the victory for the Democrats, with the party on course to win more seats in the House than they had when Barak Obama was elected in 2008.
As Democrats take control of Congress at the midterms, what impact did the global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump have on the vote? Many small businesses in the United States say they are being stifled by the tariffs, with the consulting firm Epiq Global's October assessment saying small business bankruptcies increased 46 per cent from the previous year. France 24 Bogota team spoke with small business owners to understand how they are coping with these import taxes and what impact they are having on the economy.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a bitter campaign for Michigan’s open Senate seat, making him the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress. During his campaign, El-Sayed had to contend with Islamophobic attacks from Republicans and his primary opponent endorsing Rogers.
Democratic control of Congress could bring greater scrutiny of Trump’s handling of the Iran and Ukraine wars, while leaving him broad foreign-policy powers.
With control of Congress, Democrats can challenge Trump’s agenda through subpoenas, confirmation votes.
US President Donald Trump said rival Democrats had done "a good job" Tuesday after they gained control of Congress in the midterm elections. While Trump acknowledged that the Iran war may have played a part in the defeat of his Republican Party, he did not take personal responsability for the result that will upend the last two years of his presidency.
All 435 seats in the lower chamber of Congress were on the ballot in Tuesday's midterm race.
Democrats secured some big wins - and a few historic firsts - earning congratulations from President Trump.
Democrats scored sweeping victories in the U.S. midterm elections on Wednesday, flipping key Republican-held seats in Congress.
Democrats have flipped a Senate seat in North Carolina as they try to recapture majorities in Congress and break Republicans’ unified hold on power in Washington. France 24's Florence Villeminot walks us through the US electoral map.
In significant races, Americans have voted for a change in the Senate and House of Representatives. DW takes a look at who voted Republican, who voted Democrat and what it all means.
With control of the US Congress on the line, results from Tuesday's races will have marked implications for the country.
Michigan’s closely contested Senate race and voter concerns over the economy are putting Trump’s control of Washington.
Will it be a trickle, a wave, or a tsunami? Election Day in the United States with Democrats hoping to take back one or both houses of Congress. We’ll track the turnout, gauge the mood and raise the curtain ahead of Midterms results that are sure to shape the last two years of Donald Trump’s second and final term. Will a US president who’s already broken norms with his maximum use of executive powers be affected by the results a little, a lot, or not at all?
