US midterm elections 2026: Democrats sweep House and Senate in major rebuke to Trump

The Democrats wrested control of the US Senate and the House of Representatives from Republicans, in a major rebuke of President Donald Trump's policy agenda. In the lower chamber of Congress, known as the House, Democrats gained 25 seats. A party needs at least 218 seats to control the House. By early Wednesday, Democrats secured 220 seats and were on track for a comfortable majority as more races are called. The speakership of the House is likely to go to the first Black lawmaker to take the post, New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. In the Senate, where only a third of the 100 seats were contested, Democrats picked up at least seven seats, giving them a 53 seat majority.