Why did voters (finally) hand Trump a historic defeat?

Republicans suffered an unusually large defeat in the 2026 midterms, with Democrats poised to win most of the key Senate contests and at least 255 House seats. The article argues that the result is a delayed reckoning for Donald Trump, whose political strength had long made predictions of a sweeping defeat seem premature.

It identifies rising living costs as the likeliest main cause: after winning re-election, Trump imposed broad tariffs and began a war with Iran, which the article says drove up prices, particularly for energy. It also says concerns about his authoritarianism mattered, though the supplied article text cuts off before explaining that argument in detail. Democrats appear set to win nine of the ten main Senate battlegrounds, with Alaska still competitive; Mississippi is also unexpectedly close.