Trump acknowledges Iran war contributed to Republican losses as Democrats capture Congress

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump acknowledged that the war in Iran played a role in Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections, as Democrats captured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in a sweeping victory that threatens to constrain his legislative agenda.

The Democrats’ gains extended deep into Republican strongholds, with the party winning Senate and House races in states that had strongly backed Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The results reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the president’s handling of the economy, rising living costs and his decision to launch military action against Iran in February, which sent fuel prices sharply higher.

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— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) November 4, 2026

Democratic Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Hakeem Jeffries and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have secured re-election to the US House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The AP projected Tlaib as the winner in Michigan, where she defeated Republican challenger James D. Hooper.

Trump acknowledges Iran war contributed to Republican losses as Democrats capture Congress

Although the full scale of the Democratic wave was still emerging, the party secured six Republican-held Senate seats, giving it a majority even if it fails to retain its own seats in competitive Michigan and Minnesota. Democrats also flipped at least eight Republican-held House districts, including in Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina, putting them on course to take control of the lower chamber.

The victories marked a major reversal in several states that had appeared beyond Democratic reach. In Kansas, megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat in nearly a century to win a Senate seat in the state, dating back to the Great Depression.

In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown reclaimed a Senate seat previously held by Vice President JD Vance, while Texas state Representative James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton despite a substantial campaign spending effort against him. Both states had voted for Trump by double-digit margins in 2024.

South Carolina also delivered a significant upset. Democrat Annie Andrews, a paediatrician, defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham in a state Trump carried by nearly 18 percentage points in the last presidential election. Graham had been appointed to the Senate following the death of her brother, longtime Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, before seeking a full six-year term.

Trump had personally backed Graham and Paxton, as well as Ohio Republican Jon Husted, despite controversies surrounding some of his preferred candidates. Paxton had faced a series of political and legal troubles, including impeachment in 2023 and securities fraud charges, while Graham’s acknowledged lack of electoral experience became a campaign issue.

The president made an extensive final push for Republican candidates, holding more than two dozen rallies and repeatedly urging supporters to treat the midterms as a vote on his own presidency. He had told audiences to “pretend I’m on the ballot” to energise the Republican base.

However, as the scale of the Republican setback became apparent on Tuesday night, Trump took to social media to argue that his absence from the ballot had made the difference.

“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he wrote.

Democrats make gains in Republican strongholds

The Democratic surge was not limited to congressional races. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a three-term Republican incumbent, lost to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, while Democrats also captured governorships in traditionally conservative Iowa and Ohio.

Even where Republicans managed to hold their seats, their margins narrowed considerably. In Florida, Republican Senator Ashley Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon but led by only around three percentage points, according to a vote count compiled by Reuters and USA Today. Trump had carried the state by 13 points in 2024.

Democrats also retained three Florida House districts that Republican lawmakers had redrawn earlier this year. All three constituencies had supported Trump by at least nine percentage points in the presidential election, highlighting the extent of the shift in voter sentiment.

In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who was projected to win re-election, described the results as a decisive rejection of the president and his administration.

“In sweeping and decisive victories, the American people have rebuked the depravity, corruption and incompetence of the man named President Donald J. Trump,” Ossoff told supporters at a victory gathering.

Voters demand checks on presidential power

Exit polls conducted by SSRS on behalf of a consortium of US media organisations, including major television networks and the Associated Press, offered further insight into the mood behind the results.

Half of voters nationwide said they viewed the midterm elections as an opportunity to rebuke Trump, while three-quarters described themselves as either angry or dissatisfied with the direction in which the country was heading.

The surveys also found that 70 per cent of voters wanted Congress to provide stronger checks and balances on the president.

With Democrats now controlling both chambers, the election outcome is expected to create a substantially different political environment for the remainder of Trump’s term. The new congressional majorities will have greater leverage over legislation and oversight, presenting a significant challenge to the administration’s domestic and foreign policy priorities.