WASHINGTON, 4 November, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Democrats have secured control of both the US Senate and House of Representatives in a sweeping victory in the 2026 midterm elections, marking a major political setback for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The results reflect widespread voter dissatisfaction with the Trump administration, particularly over the war with Iran, rising living costs, economic concerns and allegations of corruption. Democrats achieved historic victories in traditionally Republican strongholds, including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, where they made significant gains in congressional and gubernatorial races. In Texas, Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak by winning a Senate seat and defeating three-term Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Kansas elected its first Democratic senator in nearly a century, while voters in South Carolina rejected Trump’s preferred Senate candidate. Democrats also secured more than two dozen Republican-held seats in the House of Representatives, establishing a majority in the lower chamber. The election results are expected to usher in a new period of divided government in Washington, with Democrats preparing to increase oversight of the Trump administration, investigate government policies and challenge presidential nominations. The Democratic-controlled Senate will also have the authority to block presidential appointments, including potential Supreme Court nominees. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described the outcome as a historic transformation of the political landscape, saying American voters had demanded change. Exit polls indicated that around half of voters viewed the elections as an opportunity to express opposition to Trump, while approximately 70 percent supported stronger congressional checks and balances on presidential powers. The elections also produced several historic milestones, including the election of the first Black woman governor in Georgia, the first Black Republican governor in Florida and the first Latina governor of Texas. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed made history by becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. Despite acknowledging that the Iran conflict contributed to Republican losses, President Trump defended his decision to enter the war and indicated that he would work with Democrats on certain issues while warning that he could veto legislation he considered unacceptable. The sweeping Democratic victory is likely to reshape the balance of political power in Washington and intensify political competition ahead of the 2028 presidential election.