A Democratic victory in the US midterms has shifted the landscape for Donald Trump’s final two years in office. When the new Congress convenes in January, Democrats will hold control of both chambers, providing them the power to block Trump's legislation, challenge spending on the war in Iran, and scrutinize his deals with Beijing.
The day after the party lost control of Congress, Trump invited reporters to a construction site for his new White House ballroom to watch workers raise a final steel beam. When asked about the possibility of impeachment, Trump dismissed the idea and instead told reporters to "Watch the beam go up."
During the visit, Trump responded to Vice-President J.D. Vance, who blamed the war in Iran for the Democratic victory. Vance stated that many voters who supported Trump in 2024 turned out again on Tuesday but voted for Democrats. Vance wrote on X that "The reason we lost is the war," citing an unnamed pollster who indicated that ending the conflict was the top priority for former Trump voters, followed by the cost of living.
Trump offered a different explanation, stating that the war hurt Republicans by driving up petrol prices, though he defended his decision to take military action. "If I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again," Trump said. He also maintained that Republicans would have won if his name had been on the ballot, noting, "We weren’t able to transfer the love to candidates."
The Democratic wave reached several areas previously held by Republicans. In Texas, James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat to win a US Senate race in the state since 1988. In South Carolina, Annie Andrews defeated Senator Darline Graham. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton defeated Senator Roger Marshall, ending a Senate winning streak dating back to 1932. In Ohio, Sherrod Brown won the seat vacated by Vance. As of Wednesday at noon Eastern time, the Associated Press had not yet called the Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi, though Democrats had already secured control without those seats.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated his first assignment is to lower household costs, such as petrol, groceries, healthcare, and heating. Regarding Iran, Schumer said, "This war must end. It must end." While he pointed to the congressional "power of the purse" as a means to end the conflict, he did not propose a specific funding cut. Schumer also pledged to tackle government corruption, stating, "The days of Trump’s supplicant Senate are over," and warned that Democrats would investigate and take Trump to court if he defied the law or the will of the people.
House Republicans are now facing a leadership transition. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who previously intended to stay in his role, told staff on Wednesday that he would not seek the minority leader’s job. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan are considered the strongest candidates. A leadership election is scheduled for November 10. When asked if he would take sides, Trump said, "We’ll stay out of it."
While Trump can still negotiate with Xi Jinping, Democratic control of Congress may limit his leverage. Feng Chucheng of Hutong Research told the South China Morning Post that a Republican Congress might have granted technology export waivers that Democrats would be less inclined to provide. Professor Zhao Minghao of Fudan University expects a Democratic Congress to take a tougher stance on AI, export controls, and Taiwan. California congressman Ted Lieu stated on Wednesday that House Democrats would hold public hearings on the AI industry to regulate it, accusing the Trump administration and House Republicans of making a "conscious decision to let the AI industry run wild."
