Democrats Win Control of Congress, Setting Up a Two-Year Clash With Trump
Democrats have taken control of both chambers of Congress, a major setback for President Donald Trump that gives the party new power to investigate his administration and challenge his agenda.
Trump congratulated Democrats on their victories and said he was willing to work with them. But he also defended his record, saying he believed his presidency’s first two years had been the best in history for the economy and his administration’s accomplishments.
The results give Democrats a stronger hand in Washington. They can hold hearings, issue subpoenas and use committee investigations to scrutinize the president and his allies. They may also be able to block legislation they oppose.
But their majority does not mean they can pass every proposal they support. In the Senate, Democrats did not reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance many major bills, meaning they may still need Republican support. Trump also retains the power to veto legislation.
That leaves both parties facing a difficult question: Will the next two years bring cooperation—or a prolonged fight over the limits of presidential power?
Voters’ concerns helped shape the result
The election unfolded against widespread frustration over the cost of living. Many voters blamed Trump for rising prices, citing his administration’s tariffs and the decision to enter a war with Iran.
A CNN poll found that more than six in 10 voters disapproved of Trump, with a majority saying they strongly disapproved. Early findings from an Associated Press survey suggested that many voters also believed Congress had not done enough to limit presidential power.
The results may therefore reflect dissatisfaction with Trump as much as support for Democrats. The same survey found that many voters remain wary of the Democratic Party, suggesting the party has won a powerful position in Congress without receiving an unconditional endorsement from the public.
Democrats flip Republican-held seats
Democrats made gains in several states long considered difficult terrain for the party, including Maine, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas and Texas.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in a race that Republicans had spent heavily to win. Talarico called the victory a rejection of money’s influence in politics.
“We proved that all the money in the world can’t defeat the will of the people of Texas,” he said. “The power belongs to the people!”
A Democratic victory in Texas had long seemed out of reach. No Democrat had won a U.S. Senate seat there since 1988.
In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won a Senate seat and is set to become the first Muslim senator in U.S. history. Trump had called him a jihadist and a threat to national security, and repeatedly accused him of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed campaigned as a progressive outsider, focusing on campaign finance reform and health care.
Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham in South Carolina, a race that few analysts had expected to be competitive just months earlier. Andrews said she would defend her state’s interests in Washington, even when that meant opposing her own party.
In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins conceded defeat to Democrat Troy Jackson. Collins was first elected in 1996 and was seeking another term.
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms also made history, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in the United States. Her victory in Georgia marked the state’s first election of a woman governor.
Trump and Musk respond
Trump praised Democrats after the results came in, saying they had “done a good job” and that he would work with them. He also noted that he could veto legislation and said he did not want to spend the rest of his term rejecting every Democratic proposal.
The president had spent months urging Republicans to imagine he was on the ballot, hoping to bring more of them to the polls. The results suggest that strategy did not prevent voters from delivering a sharp rebuke to his party.
Elon Musk, who donated more than $480 million to Republican candidates, responded with a joke on X. “I guess my space lasers didn’t work in this election,” he wrote, referring to a conspiracy theory.
What happens next?
Democratic control of Congress opens the door to investigations into the administration and its allies. It also gives the party more influence over hearings and the legislative agenda.
Still, the narrow limits of the Senate majority could make major policy changes difficult. Without enough votes to overcome procedural hurdles, Democrats may have to negotiate with Republicans—or focus on oversight and investigations instead.
The outcome also drew attention abroad. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said he hoped Trump would focus on promises to end the war in Ukraine and resolve conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he hoped the result would help stabilize the region. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow’s foreign policy would not be shaped by short-term considerations.
Global stock markets generally rose after the election. Investors often favor divided government because it can make major policy shifts harder to enact. Democrats may pass legislation, but Trump can veto it, leaving the next two years likely to be defined by negotiation, obstruction and investigations.
For voters, the central question is no longer whether Democrats can challenge Trump. They now have the power to do so. The question is how far they will go—and whether either side can deliver the cooperation Trump says he wants.
