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Democrats win US midterms and vow to check Trump

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Ongoing: US mid-terms Hot

Democrats took the US Senate with a majority of at least 54-44 and gained at least 30 House seats, according to one outlet's count. Party leaders said they would use the win to rein in President Donald Trump.

Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic Leader, told reporters on Wednesday that Democrats do not work for Trump but for the American people. He said the incoming House majority would focus on affordability and accountability. Jeffries is expected to become the first Black Speaker of the House.

Democrats flipped seats in deeply Republican states. Reports said they also won races in rural and southern areas that had seemed out of reach for decades. Analysis said anger over the cost of living, linked to the US-Iran war, helped them win.

Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said the result is a warning to Republicans and an opportunity for Democrats. He said the party has work to do in Congress to keep the trust of voters. Reports said the result could set up two years of deadlock in Washington.

Trump made his first appearance after the election at the White House. He showed off the ballroom that is under construction there.

Key facts

Who
Ken Martin (chair of the Democratic National Committee); Hakeem Jeffries (New York congressman, set to be the next Speaker of the House); Chuck Schumer (expected to be majority leader in the Senate); Donald Trump (US President)
What
Following the US midterm victories, Democratic leaders say the party will try to maintain its momentum. Ken Martin said the result should be a massive warning sign to Republicans and an opportunity for Democrats.
When
4 November 2026
Where
United States, Washington, White House
Status
Reported

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US Vice-President JD Vance said in a post on X that the Iran war was the reason Republicans lost the midterm elections, and he questioned whether it was worth the cost. Democrats won the Senate with a majority of at least 54-44 and gained at least 30 House seats, according to one count, and party leaders said they would rein in President Donald Trump.

Trump said the war was needed to stop Tehran getting a nuclear weapon, though he admitted it contributed to his party's losses. Earlier, projections showed Democrats winning both chambers on 3 November, and exit polls showed voters angry about high prices and the direction of the country.

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