Democrats Gain Control of Congress in Historic Midterms

In the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate, marking a historic victory as projected by CNN's Decision Desk. This outcome allows Democrats to challenge President Donald Trump and his administration during the last two years of his presidency.

The election results were particularly notable in states Trump had previously won by large margins, including South Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Kansas, and Iowa. Democrats needed to gain only three seats to retake the House, a scenario anticipated by analysts, but the Senate results were more remarkable, requiring wins in multiple states Trump had carried by double digits.

CNN's voter poll indicated that over 60% of voters disapproved of Trump, with significant concerns about inflation, tariffs, the Iran war, and Trump's conduct. While Democrats gain the authority to investigate and block judicial appointments, Trump retains veto power, and most Senate legislation still requires 60 votes to advance.