Democrats poised to take Senate, House
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The article reports major Democratic gains in the 2026 US midterm elections, with the party on course to take the Senate and make substantial gains in the House. Multiple Democratic candidates defeated Trump-backed Republicans in key Senate races, marking a setback for Trump and his party amid voter concerns over prices, the Iran war, and the country's direction.
Democrats were on course to take control of the US Senate and make significant gains in the House after a string of victories in Tuesday's midterm elections, as voters frustrated by high prices, the war in Iran and the country's direction delivered a setback to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.The Senate results included a series of unexpected Democratic wins in traditionally Republican states. James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Ken Paxton in Texas, physician Annie Andrews beat Darline Graham in South Carolina, and former senator Sherrod Brown defeated Republican incumbent Jon Husted in Ohio. In Kansas, pastor Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Roger Marshall, ending a 94-year gap since the state last elected a Democrat to the US Senate.Also Read: US Midterm Elections 2026: Mixed results for Indian-Americans as Subramanyam, Miller, Dandiya win, Ramaswamy losesThe victories, along with Democrat Roy Cooper's win in North Carolina, put the party past the four-seat net gain it needed to take control of the Senate. Republicans had entered the elections with a 53-47 majority.The results marked a setback for Trump, who had campaigned for several of the defeated Republicans and made the midterms a test of his second-term presidency. He had backed Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Republican primary, despite warnings from Cornyn and national Republicans that Paxton could struggle in a general election and cost the party heavily.In South Carolina, Trump supported Graham despite concerns within the Republican Party about her experience and ability to succeed her brother, Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly. Trump also repeatedly travelled to Ohio to campaign for Husted.Hamilton's victory was particularly significant in Kansas, a state Trump carried by more than 16 percentage points in 2024. Hamilton, who leads the country's largest United Methodist congregation, campaigned on affordability and bipartisanship, describing himself as an "independent-minded Democrat" and rejecting Republican portrayals of him as far left.The race tightened in its final weeks, drawing Trump and Vice President JD Vance to Kansas to campaign for Marshall. At a rally in the Wichita area on October 19, Trump said the US Department of Agriculture would launch a "harvest fuel relief program" to provide farmers with $8 billion to offset diesel costs during the harvest season.Hamilton, 62, has written more than 30 books on Christianity and theology. Both candidates sought to appeal to farmers facing high diesel and fertiliser costs, which have risen in part because of the war in Iran.Marshall, an obstetrician before entering politics, was elected to the US House in 2016 and the Senate in 2020. He faced criticism after a September report by The New York Times said he had sued more than 700 patients over unpaid bills. In an interview with Fox News, he called the article a "hit job" and said he had followed typical collections practices.Democrats also held competitive seats in New Hampshire and Georgia. Senator Jon Ossoff won re-election in Georgia, defeating Representative Mike Collins and denying Republicans a seat they had viewed as a major pickup opportunity. Representative Chris Pappas won the New Hampshire Senate race, defeating former senator John Sununu to replace retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.Several other Democratic senators secured re-election, including Cory Booker in New Jersey, Ed Markey in Massachusetts and John Hickenlooper in Colorado. Democrat Juliana Stratton won the race to replace Senator Dick Durbin.Also Read: Adam Hamilton defeats Trump-backed Roger Marshall in Kansas, ending 94-year Democratic Senate droughtRepublicans, meanwhile, held on to Florida, where Senator Ashley Moody won a special election to complete the term of Marco Rubio, who became Trump's secretary of state in 2025. Wyoming Representative Harriet Hageman won the Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis.Democrats close in on House controlIn the House of Representatives, Democrats were also moving towards a majority after defeating Republicans in several closely watched races. The party needed a net gain of three seats to take control.Republican Representatives Tom Kean of New Jersey, Ryan Mackenzie, Scott Perry and Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania lost their re-election bids. Democrats also won open seats in North Carolina and Kentucky.In North Carolina, Democrat Jamie Ager defeated Republican Jennifer Capps Balkcom, delivering the party its first House flip of the night. In New Jersey, former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett defeated Kean, who had missed four months of votes in Washington while undergoing treatment for depression, a diagnosis he disclosed only after returning.Democrats had entered election day cautiously optimistic, banking on voter frustration over the cost of living and the perception that Trump was more focused on projects to beautify the nation's capital than on easing hou