US Midterms Draw Concession From Trump as Democrats Take Congress

UPDATE - follow-up to U.S. midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Kansas sends Democrat to Senate for first time since 1932; Trump claims Republicans would have won in 'landslide' if he was contesting: Democrats won full control of the United States Congress on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in a midterm rout that handed a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party. The vote followed deep voter anger over living costs, tariffs, and a war against Iran that pushed fuel prices higher.

Election Results

President Trump told The New York Times he is willing to accept the results and work with Democrats, though he claimed on Truth Social that his party would have won in a landslide if he had been on the ballot. Democrats secured control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and President Trump acknowledged the war in Iran played a part in the losses during a Fox News interview where he vowed to veto laws he called insane. In state races, Republican Phil Scott won a sixth term as Governor of Vermont by defeating Democrat Amanda Janoo. Republican Alan Wilson won the South Carolina governor's race against Democrat Jermaine Johnson, succeeding term-limited Governor Henry McMaster. Republican Julia Letlow won a U.S. Senate seat for Louisiana by beating Democrat Jamie Davis, after previously defeating Senator Bill Cassidy in a primary with help from Mr. Trump. In Ohio, Trump-backed Indian-American candidate Vivek Ramaswamy lost the gubernatorial race to Democrat Amy Acton, who secured over 51% of the vote to become the state's first female governor, while Mr. Ramaswamy won over 45%. Finally, Democrat Ben McAdams won a U.S. House seat in Utah's first congressional district by defeating Republican Riley Owen following a court ruling on district boundaries.

Context

Midterm elections in the United States take place midway through a president's four-year term, often serving as a referendum on the current administration's policies. Control of Congress allows a party to shape federal legislation, approve government spending, and launch congressional investigations. State-level gubernatorial races and Senate contests further determine the balance of power across the country.