The 2026 US midterm elections delivered a major setback to President Donald Trump and the Republicans , with Democrats making significant gains in Congress and taking control of both chambers. The results marked a sharp rebuke to the Republican administration, as voters in several key contests turned against the party in power.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico won the Senate race against Trump-backed Ken Paxton, while Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Democratic victories in closely watched races, including in Texas and Michigan, displayed the scale of the party’s gains, while the outcome also raised questions about Trump’s political standing ahead of the next presidential election. The biggest breakthroughs came in states that had long been Republican strongholds. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. Democrats also scored major Senate victories in Kansas and South Carolina, while Republican losses included Trump-backed candidates in several key races. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the gubernatorial contest.
The results are expected to reshape the final two years of Trump’s presidency, with Democrats set to use their congressional majorities to scrutinise his administration and challenge his legislative agenda. Trump, however, sought to play down the outcome, saying he was not on the ballot and blaming the quality of some Republican candidates. He also acknowledged that the Iran war had partly contributed to the party’s poor performance.
