Democrats Sweep US Midterms 2026 to Take Congress

Democrats won the US midterms 2026 on Tuesday, taking control of both chambers of Congress in a clear rebuke to President Donald Trump. The Associated Press called the House for the Democrats, giving the party unified control of Congress for the rest of Trump’s term.

Democrats also secured at least 51 seats in the Senate, enough for a majority. They flipped Republican-held seats in Texas, South Carolina, Iowa, Ohio and Kansas, according to Associated Press projections reported by Al Jazeera. The result reversed the balance of power in Washington halfway through Trump’s second term.

All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats were on the ballot. Democrats entered the election needing a net gain of four Senate seats. They passed that mark as results came in through the night in the United States, which is the morning of November 4 in Pakistan. Before polling day, Democrats had widened their lead in pre-election polls.

Texas delivers the night’s biggest shock in the US midterms 2026

The most striking result came in Texas. Democrat James Talarico flipped a US Senate seat, the first Democratic Senate victory in the state in more than three decades.

The Texas race drew record spending of more than half a billion dollars. Trump had endorsed scandal-hit Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn. Billionaire Elon Musk spent at least 212 million dollars supporting Paxton, according to Al Jazeera’s live results coverage.

Texas delivered a second Democratic breakthrough on the same night. Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who was first elected in 2014. Abbott called Hinojosa to congratulate her and promised help with the transition. She became the first Latino governor in Texas history, in a state where Latinos make up 40 per cent of the population.

Maine, New Mexico and Minnesota add to the Democratic wave

In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson defeated longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins. Collins conceded the race, and Jackson told supporters voters had described cutting pills in half and worrying over heating bills.

In New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland made history as the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state. Haaland, a former interior secretary and member of the Laguna Pueblo, defeated Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor of Rio Rancho.

In Minnesota, Democrat Amy Klobuchar won the governor’s race, defeating Republican Lisa Demuth. In Iowa, Democrats Christina Bohannan and Sarah Garriott flipped two Republican-held House seats. In Minnesota’s fifth district, Democrat Ilhan Omar won re-election to the House.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats had crushed the Republican gerrymander across the country.

Trump concedes Democrats fought hard and blames Iran war

Trump gave Democrats rare praise in a telephone interview with Fox News. He said they did a good job and fought hard, adding that there was a mood in the air and he should not feel guilty. He also said Democrats would send him measures he called insane, and he would veto them.

In addition, Trump acknowledged that the war on Iran played a role in the Republican losses. He said voters were probably not willing to accept the short-term consequence of petrol prices. He added that he was unlikely to change his cabinet.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani hailed the results at a Democratic election night event in Manhattan. He called the wins, including the re-election of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, an inflection point for the Democratic Party. He said the party had begun the work of transforming itself and making it belong to working people once again.

What the result means for Trump and for Pakistan

A Democratic Congress changes how Trump governs. He can still veto legislation, as he warned, but he will face a Congress that can block his agenda, open investigations and shape spending. For the rest of his term, his room to act without Congress narrows sharply.

The result also matters for the war on Iran, which Trump himself linked to the outcome. Democrat Ro Khanna, re-elected in California’s 17th district, has pledged to stop further military funding for the war. He has long criticised US policy towards Israel and called for an end to US military assistance to Israel.

For Pakistan, the shift matters for two reasons. A Democratic Congress may press harder on war powers and military spending linked to the Iran conflict, which has disrupted Gulf shipping and energy prices. The election also shows how petrol prices and living costs shaped votes in the world’s largest economy, pressures felt by households in Pakistan too.

Frequently asked questions

Who won the US midterms 2026?

Democrats won both chambers of Congress. They took the House, according to the Associated Press, and secured at least 51 seats in the Senate, enough for a majority.

Which Senate seats did Democrats flip?

Democrats flipped Republican-held Senate seats in Texas, South Carolina, Iowa, Ohio and Kansas, according to Associated Press projections reported by Al Jazeera.

What was the biggest surprise of the night?

The Texas Senate race stood out. James Talarico won the first Democratic Senate victory in Texas in more than three decades, in a race that cost more than half a billion dollars.

How did President Trump react?

Trump said Democrats did a good job and fought hard. He also said the war on Iran played a role in Republican losses, because voters were unwilling to accept the short-term effect on petrol prices. He warned he would veto Democratic measures he opposed.

Why does the result matter for Pakistan?

A Democratic Congress may press harder on war powers and military spending linked to the Iran conflict, which affects Gulf shipping and energy prices. The result also shows how petrol prices and living costs shaped votes in the United States, pressures felt by households in Pakistan too.