Democrats turn the tables: What’s next for Trump?

Democrats have regained control of the US House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections, marking a major political setback for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party. Vote counting is continuing across several states, with early results showing Democratic candidates leading in multiple key contests.

According to US media reports, polling has concluded in several areas of Vermont, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, while election officials continue counting ballots. Initial results indicate a strong performance by Democratic candidates in the closely watched elections.

Early figures show Democrats leading in 129 seats in the House of Representatives, compared with 73 seats for Republicans. The 435-member House requires a party to secure at least 218 seats to gain a majority and control the chamber.

The Senate results have also shown significant gains for Democrats. Initial figures indicate that Democratic candidates are leading in 12 Senate races, bringing their total to 46 seats. Republicans are leading in six contests, taking their reported total to 37 seats. A party needs at least 51 seats in the 100-member Senate to secure a simple majority.

One of the major developments came from North Carolina, where Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley to win a Senate seat previously held by the Republican Party.

Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff secured re-election in Georgia, retaining his seat and strengthening his party’s position in the Senate.

The elections have also witnessed controversy in Alaska, where a Republican Senate candidate alleged electoral fraud. However, the allegation has not been independently established.

In an unusual development, three American astronauts also participated in the midterm elections from space. Luke, Anil and Jessica cast their electronic ballots from the International Space Station and sent them to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Polling began at different times across the United States. Voting started at 5am local time in Vermont, while polling stations opened at 6am in New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

Polling in several states was scheduled to conclude at different times, with voting in some areas continuing until 11am Pakistan time.

The midterm elections are being closely watched because their outcome will determine the balance of power in Congress and influence the remaining years of Trump’s presidency. Democratic control of the House could create major challenges for the Republican administration in passing legislation and advancing its political priorities.