US President Donald Trump is facing a challenging two years after the Democrats secured control of both houses of Congress in the midterm elections. Following Tuesday’s vote, the Democrats claimed 228 out of 435 seats in the House of Representatives, with the Republicans holding 139. Counting continues for the remaining seats. In the Senate, the Democrats gained at least 54 of the 100 seats, marking a significant setback for Trump.
This shift in power, which turns Trump into a lame-duck president, means he will struggle to advance his policies. While he retains the power to veto legislation and remains commander-in-chief, the Democrats will have the authority to block bills and investigate his administration from 3 January 2027.
Voter concerns over rising living costs, Trump’s tariff policies, and the conflict in Iran influenced the election results. Democratic voter Kathy Jackoway expressed her excitement over the outcome, saying it would help reclaim the country.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump acknowledged his party’s loss, stating, “The Democrats did a good job. They fought hard.” However, he distanced himself from the responsibility, insisting it wasn’t a personal defeat.
International reactions followed swiftly. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called the voting process a triumph for American democracy, while British Prime Minister Andy Burnham saw potential for constructive dialogue on shared issues like living costs. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, expressed hopes that the new Congress would increase pressure on Russia, while Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, dismissed any expectation of changes in US policy towards Iran.
The Democrats also made surprising gains in traditionally Republican areas, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Texas, and Maine. In Maine, Troy Jackson defeated long-serving Republican Susan Collins. Kansas welcomed its first Democratic senator since 1932 with Adam Hamilton, a Methodist minister. In Iowa, Josh Turek, a former Paralympic athlete, captured a Senate seat.
Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed made history by becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate, while positions in the House expanded for Democrats in states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and New Jersey.
In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in US history. The Republicans found some solace with Byron Donalds becoming Florida’s first Black governor and Ashley Moody retaining her Senate seat.
Following the election results, both the dollar and oil prices fell as traders adjusted to the implications of a Democratic win. Investment director Russ Mould from AJ Bell noted the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s potential actions in the coming months as he declared he would assume the role of “Mr Veto.” European stock markets reacted positively, showing gains despite eurozone inflation reaching a three-year high of 4.0 per cent.
