Republicans routed in strongholds
WASHINGTON, Nov 4: Democrats have seized control of both the US House of Representatives and the Senate in a sweeping midterm election victory, delivering a major setback to President Donald Trump and weakening his party’s grip on Congress for the final two years of his presidency.
The Republican defeat, marked by Democratic victories in traditionally Republican strongholds, has raised questions over Trump’s political influence and his ability to maintain control over his party.
The results will give Democrats control of the legislative agenda, greater powers to scrutinise the Trump administration, block key appointments and challenge legislation, ending two years of unified Republican control in Washington.
The setback comes amid voter dissatisfaction over the cost of living, rising prices, Trump’s tariff policies and the conflict with Iran, which have overshadowed his 2024 campaign promises to make life more affordable.
Democrats made significant gains in states that have traditionally backed Republicans. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat elected to the US Senate from the state in nearly a century. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in a major upset, while Democrats also secured victories in other traditionally Republican states.
Trump’s preferred candidates also suffered setbacks, exposing divisions within the Republican Party and raising questions over the influence of his endorsements.
Responding to the Republican losses, Trump sought to distance himself from the outcome, claiming that the party would have won decisively had he personally been on the ballot.
“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In another post, Trump said he would take on the role of a political commentator to analyse why candidates had won or lost.
The results mark a setback for a President who had made his personal political influence central to the Republican campaign. They could also embolden party members who have so far been reluctant to publicly challenge his decisions and policies.
Before the elections, Trump had threatened to veto legislation passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress, saying he would become “Mr Veto” and block measures until the opposition agreed to negotiate.
However, following the Republican rout, he struck a more conciliatory note, telling Politico that he did not want to spend the next two years vetoing everything and would work with Democrats to ensure things went well for the country.
Democratic leaders, meanwhile, signalled plans to push for changes and hold the administration accountable. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Congress needed to deliver “dramatic change”, adding that the country needed a legislature that put the American people first.
The Democratic takeover is expected to bring greater congressional scrutiny of Trump’s policies, including his handling of the Iran conflict, tariffs and relations with Russia, while making it more difficult for the President to advance his legislative agenda without bipartisan support.
