Democrats seize Congress amid Trump setback

Democrats captured control of both the House and the Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, outperforming early projections. By 1 a.m. Eastern Time, Decision Desk HQ projected a House majority of 256 seats, well above the 218 needed for control. In the Senate, Democrats held 54 seats with contests in Alaska and Mississippi still unresolved.

The party's gains included victories in South Carolina and Kansas. Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, securing the first Senate win for Democrats in that state in nearly a century. This result stands out as a major shift in a state that has trended Republican for decades.

Texas produced two high-profile Democratic victories. State Representative James Talarico, 37, defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Senate seat with a ten-point lead at 90 percent count. In a separate race, State Representative Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott conceded the race early Wednesday, appearing headed for a seven-point loss.

President Trump blamed the losses on his candidates rather than his own popularity during a midnight Fox News interview. He noted that his approval rating was 20 points lower than his disapproval rating in polling averages. Some Republicans questioned his influence, citing defeats by candidates he had personally endorsed, including Paxton.

In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed secured a Senate victory shortly before 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The former public health official became the country's first Muslim senator after a campaign marked by Islamophobic attacks from Trump. His Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, had received an endorsement from Representative Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed defeated in the primary.

Ohio Governor Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in a contentious campaign. The race drew criticism after an advertisement featured Acton's estranged mother attacking her credibility. Republican leaders Mike DeWine and former Governor John Kasich commented on the spot. These results align with polling data that forecast substantial Democratic gains driven by concerns over living costs and the war in Iran.