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Democrats Win House, Poised to Take Senate
Democrats won control of both chambers of the US Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, in results described as a backlash against President Donald Trump. The shift gives them a majority in the Senate and puts House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in line to become Speaker.
CNN projected Democrats had secured at least 51 Senate seats, while several networks called the House for the party; the Associated Press had not called either contest at the time of publication. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico was projected to defeat Ken Paxton in a Senate race with an estimated $573.2 million spent on political advertising. Other Democratic Senate victories included races in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa and Maine, while Michigan remained too close to call. The article linked the gains to Trump’s low approval ratings amid rising fuel and grocery costs and an unpopular war with Iran.
In short
- Democrats won control of the House and Senate.
- James Talarico was projected to flip Texas’s Senate seat.
- The Texas race drew an estimated $573.2 million in political ads.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Democrats can argue that winning both chambers gives voters a clear way to register dissatisfaction with the administration’s record, including higher living costs and the war with Iran. A Democratic Congress could scrutinise the president, check executive power and pursue policies its supporters believe would better address those concerns.
The case against
Republicans can argue that a change in congressional control risks gridlock and could undo policies they believe support economic growth, security or the administration’s agenda. They may also contend that election results across many states do not necessarily amount to a mandate for every part of the Democratic platform, and that voters should weigh the costs of divided government.