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How big is the Republican midterms loss, and is there a silver lining?
Democrats have taken control of both chambers of the US Congress in a sweeping midterm victory, dealing President Donald Trump and the Republican Party a major setback. The scale of the loss gives Democrats greater power to oppose the administration and opens the way for investigations, while likely sharpening divisions over how forcefully to challenge Trump.
Democrats have won 228 House seats and lead in 34 uncalled races; taking all of them would give the party more than 260 seats, its largest majority since 1990. In the Senate, Democrats have secured 54 seats to the Republicans’ 44, their strongest majority since 2008. Trump-backed candidates lost key races in traditionally Republican states including Kansas, Texas and South Carolina, despite Republican hopes that redistricting would help them gain seats.
In short
- Democrats won majorities in the House and Senate.
- The House result could exceed 260 Democratic seats.
- Several Trump-endorsed candidates lost in Republican strongholds.
Explained simply
Midterm elections take place halfway through a US president’s four-year term. Voters choose all 435 members of the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the Senate, whose members serve six-year terms. The two chambers together make up Congress, which passes federal laws, approves spending and oversees the executive branch.
The Republican Party and the Democratic Party are the two main US political parties. Donald Trump is a Republican president, while the opposition Democrats can use control of Congress to shape legislation and scrutinise his administration. A larger majority can make it easier to advance a party’s priorities, though laws still face hurdles in both chambers and may need the president’s approval.
Midterm results are often seen as a measure of how voters view the president and the governing party. They can also affect party strategy, including how candidates approach future elections and how lawmakers respond to the administration.
Elections Government Politics World