Voters punish Trump with historic swing to Democrats

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the war on Iran contributed to Republican losses in the midterm elections, as Democrats captured both chambers of Congress in a sweeping rebuke of his administration. Vowing to block legislation he considers ‘insane’, Trump declared he would become ‘Mr Veto’ in the final two years of his presidency.

The Democratic victory marks a major political setback for Trump, giving the opposition control of the House of Representatives and the Senate and the power to obstruct his legislative agenda, investigate his administration and block senior government and judicial appointments.

The results reflected widespread voter discontent over the rising cost of living, tariffs and Trump's war against Iran, which has pushed fuel prices higher and added to dissatisfaction with his presidency.

Democrats regained the House, which Republicans had captured in 2022 amid post-pandemic inflation under former president Joe Biden. They also flipped at least six Republican-held Senate seats across conservative strongholds in the South and Midwest.

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader who could become the first Black speaker of the chamber when the new Congress convenes in January, hailed the results as proof that "America is alive and well".

"Today begins the great American comeback," Jeffries told supporters in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. He said voters had rejected extremism and corruption and wanted a Congress that would deliver for them.

Democrats made significant gains in South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Texas and Maine, defeating several long-serving Republican lawmakers and breaking the party's grip on traditionally conservative constituencies.

In Maine, former logger Troy Jackson defeated Republican Senator Susan Collins, marking the Democrats' seventh Senate pickup. In Kansas, Methodist minister Adam Hamilton became the state's first Democratic senator since 1932, while Iowa elected a Democratic senator for the first time since 2008.

In Texas, Democrat James Talarico declared victory over his Republican opponent, while Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott, ending decades of Republican rule in the state.

Democrats also secured a historic breakthrough in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed defeated former Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.

"Michigan, we did it!" El-Sayed told supporters in Detroit.

The party also protected key Senate seats, including Jon Ossoff's in Georgia and an open seat in New Hampshire.

In the House, Democrats made gains in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Arizona, North Carolina, Wisconsin and New Jersey, including districts Trump had comfortably carried in 2024. In Indiana, Democrat J D Ford defeated Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz in a district Trump had won by 17 percentage points.

Democrats also won Georgia's governorship, electing former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms as the first Black woman governor in US history.

Republicans had some consolation in Florida, where Trump-backed Byron Donalds became the state's first Black governor and Ashley Moody retained her Senate seat, although both faced strong Democratic challenges.

Trump, who had repeatedly urged Republican supporters to "pretend I'm on the ballot", sought to distance himself from the defeat as the scale of the losses became clear.

"I wasn't on the Ballot," he posted on social media, adding that Republicans would have won "IN A LANDSLIDE" had he been a candidate.

However, he struck a conciliatory tone in interviews, saying he was "absolutely willing" to accept the results and acknowledging that Democrats had campaigned hard.

"I think the Democrats did a good job, I really do," he told Fox News, while insisting that he did not view the results as a personal setback.

He also conceded that the Iran conflict had hurt Republican prospects but defended the military campaign. He suggested that the two parties could find common ground on immigration, one of the most divisive issues of his presidency.

The Democratic victory is expected to open the way for congressional investigations into the Iran war, immigration enforcement and alleged corruption in the administration.

Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, expected to lead the powerful House Oversight Committee, issued a warning to Republicans on social media: "LAWYER UP."

Jeffries, meanwhile, declared Trump's MAGA movement "on the run from sea to shining sea".

Despite his conciliatory remarks, Trump signalled that he would use his presidential veto to block legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress.

He posted a picture of a red baseball cap bearing the single word "VETO", reinforcing his vow to become ‘Mr Veto’ as the political battle over his remaining two years in office begins.