Democrats Take Congress in Midterm Sweep

Democrats won control of the Senate and House of Representatives in the US midterm elections, scoring a series of victories over President Donald Trump’s Republicans as vote counting continued and some polls remained open. Early results pointed to substantial Democratic gains, though the full picture was still emerging.

Voters Hand Democrats Congress in Rebuke to Trump

Democrats’ midterm sweep delivered control of both the House and Senate, a forceful rejection of President Donald Trump’s Republican Party. With votes still being counted in parts of the country, the early results already showed the scale of the party’s gains.

In North Carolina, former Democratic governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley to flip a Senate seat. Democrats had not won a Senate race in the state since 2008. Cooper told supporters that people coming together could make change.

Georgia delivered another landmark result: former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was projected to become the state’s first Black governor and first woman elected to the office. She defeated Republican Rick Jackson, backed by Governor Brian Kemp as he prepared to leave office, as well as Trump. Georgia had gone over 20 years without a Democratic governor.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff also won a second term in Georgia, while New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas was projected to become the Senate’s first openly gay elected member. The victories leave Republicans facing a Democratic-controlled Congress through the final two years of Trump’s term.

Republicans Lose Congress as Democrats Capture Key Races

Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in a midterm election marked by sweeping Democratic victories over President Donald Trump’s party. Results were still being counted, and polls remained open in some parts of the country, but the early outcome pointed to a major setback for Republicans.

In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley to take a Senate seat Democrats had not won since 2008. In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms was projected to defeat Republican Rick Jackson for governor. Jackson had endorsements from outgoing Governor Brian Kemp and Trump, who put $200 million of his personal funds into campaigning there.

Georgia also returned Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff for a second term, while Democrat Chris Pappas was projected to win a Senate seat in New Hampshire, becoming the chamber’s first openly gay elected member. His opponent was former senator John Sununu.

The results give Democrats control of Congress through the last two years of Trump’s term. Ossoff’s win is also likely to intensify speculation about whether he will seek the presidency in 2028.