Trump faces major midterm blow as Democrats surge across US

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have suffered a major political setback in the 2026 midterm elections, with Democrats making significant gains across several key states and moving closer to securing control of both chambers of Congress.

Preliminary election results indicate a strong shift in voter sentiment, with Democratic candidates defeating Republican rivals in states that Trump comfortably carried during the 2024 presidential election. The outcome has triggered criticism within Republican ranks, with several party figures openly blaming the president for the disappointing performance.

Democrats recorded notable victories in Texas, Kansas, Ohio and South Carolina, while also making substantial progress in Iowa and several other traditionally competitive political battlegrounds.

The results have intensified concerns among Republicans about their ability to retain influence in Congress, particularly as Democrats appear increasingly likely to challenge the party’s control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Several Republican strategists and political figures have attributed the party’s losses to Trump’s declining popularity, controversial policy decisions and the administration’s failure to adequately address voters’ concerns about inflation and the rising cost of living.

Texas-based Republican lobbyist Bill Miller directly blamed Trump for the electoral setback, describing the outcome as a rejection of the president himself.

Republican strategist Greg Pappin also criticised the party’s election campaign, calling it a series of mistakes. He argued that voters across different states had expressed dissatisfaction with the president’s policies, contributing to the Republicans’ poor performance.

Initially, Republicans were primarily worried about losing their majority in the House of Representatives but remained optimistic about retaining control of the Senate. However, the latest preliminary figures suggest that the party could face losses in both chambers.

According to US media reports, Democrats have secured 45 Senate seats compared with 36 for Republicans. In the 218-seat House of Representatives results reported so far, Democrats have won 113 seats, while Republicans have secured 62. Vote counting and the announcement of further results are continuing.

Several prominent Democratic lawmakers have successfully defended their congressional seats, strengthening the party’s position in Washington.

In Virginia, Democratic Senator Mark Warner secured another term in the US Senate after defeating Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa. The victory gives Warner a fourth term in the upper chamber.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff also retained his Georgia Senate seat by defeating Republican opponent Mike Collins, delivering another important victory for his party.

In Delaware, Senator Chris Coons defeated Republican candidate Michael Katz to secure re-election. Illinois also delivered a Democratic victory, with Juliana Stratton winning a Senate seat.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker successfully defended his position against Republican challenger Justin Murphy, while Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed and Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey also secured re-election.

Democrats also maintained a strong presence in the House of Representatives.

In Florida’s 20th Congressional District, Debbie Wasserman Schultz defeated Republican challenger Brent Anderson to retain her seat. Morgan McGarvey won another term in Kentucky’s Third Congressional District, while Jasmine Clark secured victory in Georgia’s 13th District.

Georgia also returned several Democratic representatives, including Nikema Williams, who defeated Republican challenger John Salveson, and Lucy McBath, who defeated Kevin E Martin in the Sixth Congressional District.

Alexandria Ocasio? No, Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost secured another term in Florida’s 10th Congressional District, while Lois Frankel retained her seat in the state’s 23rd District after defeating Republican candidate Deborah Adeimy.

Other Democratic victories included Rashida Tlaib, who successfully defended her seat in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District. Tlaib, known for her outspoken support for Palestinian rights, remained among the prominent progressive voices in Congress.

Republicans, however, managed to secure some important victories despite the wider setbacks. Representative Hal Rogers won re-election in Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District, while Republican candidate Jim Schwartzel secured victory in Florida’s 19th District.

The gubernatorial contests also produced significant political developments across the country.

Democratic governors JB Pritzker of Illinois, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania secured another electoral victory, retaining control of their respective states.

Georgia witnessed a historic development as former Atlanta mayor and Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms won the gubernatorial contest against Republican Rick Jackson. Her victory makes her the first Black woman elected governor of a US state, marking a significant milestone in American political history.

Florida, meanwhile, delivered a victory to Republican candidate Byron Donalds, who defeated Democratic challenger David Jolly. With the result, Donalds is set to become Florida’s first Black governor.

The contrasting outcomes highlight the increasingly competitive political landscape, with Democrats making substantial gains while Republicans maintained important strongholds.

The 2026 midterm elections are widely being viewed as a significant political test for Trump’s presidency. Midterm contests traditionally serve as a public assessment of the sitting president’s performance, with voters often using congressional and state elections to express approval or dissatisfaction with the administration.

For Trump, the emerging results could complicate his legislative agenda and weaken Republican influence in Congress if Democrats ultimately secure majorities in both chambers.

A Democratic takeover would give the opposition greater power to scrutinise administration policies, challenge legislative proposals and influence congressional investigations.

With vote counting continuing across several states, the final balance of power in Congress remains subject to further results. However, the early electoral trends have already sparked an intense debate within the Republican Party over Trump’s leadership, campaign strategy and the political direction of the party ahead of the next presidential election.