Democrats retake house as Trump faces major setback in 2026 midterms elections
Democrats Win Key Senate Races
Democrats defeated Republican candidates in several important Senate contests, including races in Texas, Ohio and South Carolina.
These states had strongly supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown defeated Republican incumbent Jon Husted to return to the Senate.
Texas also saw a major change as Democratic state Representative James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. In South Carolina, paediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham.
The US Midterm Election 2026 also saw Roy Cooper win North Carolina’s Senate race. These victories helped Democrats secure a Senate majority.
The results showed that Democrats retake House control while also gaining power in the Senate. Their victories in traditionally Republican states made the election results especially significant.
Trump Faces Anger Over Economy and Iran War
President Donald Trump had actively campaigned for Republican candidates. He held more than two dozen rallies and asked supporters to "pretend I'm on the ballot" to encourage them to vote Republican.
However, several candidates backed by Trump lost their races. The Donald Trump election setback came amid public concerns about rising living costs, fuel prices and his administration’s handling of the war against Iran.
The conflict, which began in February, contributed to a sharp increase in petrol prices. Economic concerns became an important issue for voters during the campaign.
After Republican losses became clear, Trump responded on social media, saying, "I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
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Voters Demand Stronger Checks on President
Exit polls conducted by SSRS showed that many voters wanted to use the US Midterm Election 2026 to express dissatisfaction with the president.
Around half of voters said the election was an opportunity to rebuke Trump. Three-quarters described themselves as "angry" or "dissatisfied" with the direction of the country.
Around 70% also said they wanted Congress to provide stronger checks and balances on the president.
These results added to the Donald Trump election setback and showed that economic conditions and government decisions were major concerns for voters.
Election Monitoring Raises Questions
The US Justice Department deployed 1,000 election monitors and observers across all 50 states. It described the move as the largest Election Day monitoring effort in US history.
Democrats criticised the monitoring plan, raising concerns that it could discourage voters. However, election officials in several states reported no major problems.
New Mexico officials said federal monitors had asked "unusual questions" in one county. The Justice Department assured them that the issue would be addressed.
