US Democrats sweep midterms to take Congress as top Republican steps down

UPDATE - follow-up to U.S. midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Republican U.S. House Speaker to step down; Zelenskyy hopes Democrat gains will bring more help for Ukraine: Democrats have seized control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress in a heavy midterms defeat for President Donald Trump, leading Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to step down as party leader. The sweeping voter rejection also prompted President Trump to back Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, stating he is performing well despite growing questions about his future after the electoral rout.

Reactions and Impact

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced hope that the Democratic gains will generate more assistance for Ukraine in the war with Russia, noting that Democrats speak very clearly about supporting Kyiv. Meanwhile, Iranian officials celebrated the outcome, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf writing on X that Americans said no to war, though Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei dismissed thoughts of any shift in U.S. policy.

State Results

Beyond Congress, Democrats captured at least 28 governorships for 2027 with pickups in Texas, Iowa, Ohio, and Georgia, while also breaking or preventing Republican supermajorities across nine legislative chambers in eight states.

Context

Midterm elections traditionally serve as a referendum on the sitting U.S. president's policies and often shift the balance of power in Washington. When the opposition party wins control of Congress, it gains the authority to block legislation, launch investigations, and alter the administration's domestic and foreign agenda.