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Democrats take House and Senate from Republicans in US midterm rout
Democrats have won control of both chambers of the US Congress in a sweeping midterm victory, flipping seats in Republican strongholds. The result is widely seen as a rejection of President Donald Trump and his record, and gives Democrats a mandate to pursue their priorities and scrutinise his administration.
From January, Democrats are projected to hold at least 237 to 139 seats in the House and a 54 to 44 advantage in the Senate, after gaining seven competitive Senate seats. Texas elected James Talarico as its first Democratic senator since 1988 and Gina Hinojosa as governor; Kansas also chose a Democratic senator for the first time in more than 90 years. Democrats won by 13 points in the House popular vote, while some races were still being counted; their Senate majority falls short of the two-thirds needed to override vetoes or convict in impeachment trials.
In short
- Democrats are set to control the House and Senate from January.
- They flipped seven competitive Senate seats, including in Republican strongholds.
- The result is a major setback for Trump, though Democrats lack a Senate supermajority.
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, including in Republican strongholds, gives them a clear electoral mandate to advance their priorities and hold the administration to account. The result also shows that voters concerned about President Trump’s record had a way to express that judgement through the midterms.
The case against
Republicans can argue that the result, while a serious setback, does not amount to agreement on every Democratic policy or a mandate to obstruct the president wholesale. They can point out that the Senate majority falls short of the threshold to override vetoes or convict in impeachment trials, and argue that voters still expect compromise and scrutiny of both parties.
Americas Elections Government Politics World