Democrats won control of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, giving the party full control of Congress for the first time since 2023. The gains included closely watched Senate races in Michigan and Maine, where Abdul El-Sayed defeated Mike Rogers and Troy Jackson defeated Susan Collins, respectively.
Democrats also recorded major wins in other traditionally Republican states. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, ending more than 30 years of Republican control, while state Rep. James Talarico won the U.S. Senate race. Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas in nearly a century. A record number of Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed candidates also won House seats, expanding the group’s presence in Congress. Nine states made history with their gubernatorial choices.
NPR senior political correspondent Domenico Montanaro said the scale of the Democratic victories exceeded what pre-election signs had suggested. He pointed to dissatisfaction with the economy and the war, as well as President Donald Trump’s low popularity, as factors that hurt Republicans. Republican-backed redistricting efforts also failed to prevent losses, and may have made some districts more competitive.
Latino voters shifted toward Democrats, backing them by 27 points, according to the report. The economy and deportation policies were among the reasons cited; a voter poll found that 59% disapproved of ICE. Democrats also won in a number of red states, though Montanaro cautioned that the results do not establish whether those states will remain competitive in future elections. He added that the results do not mean voters broadly favor the Democratic Party, which remains unpopular and faces internal divisions ahead of the 2028 presidential primaries.
President Trump initially criticized the results as Democrats took the lead in key races, but later congratulated the party and said he would respect the outcome. His prominent role in the campaigns made it harder for vulnerable Republican candidates to distance themselves from him, NPR correspondent Franco Ordoñez said.
With Democrats taking the House, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the first Black lawmaker elected Speaker. He said House Democrats would need to deliver “dramatic change.” The new majorities are expected to constrain the White House: Democrats in the Senate can block or delay confirmation of future cabinet and judicial nominees, while the House can pursue investigations and compel testimony through subpoenas. Jeffries has said he wants to hold people involved in corruption accountable, though Democrats are cautious about pursuing another impeachment of Trump.
Sources: NPR Politics.