Democrats Win Both Houses in 2026 Midterm Elections
Democratic candidates secured control of the House and Senate, dealing a significant political setback to President Donald Trump in the most expensive election in U.S. history.
The Democratic Party won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections. The victory bested Republicans by 13 percentage points in the national popular vote for House races, a margin that exceeded most pre-election polls. The results render President Donald Trump a lame duck for the final two years of his term, facing increased congressional scrutiny and resistance to his executive initiatives.
Spending for the cycle exceeded $14 billion, making it the most expensive election in history. The Republican Party outspent Democrats by 60%, supported by contributions including over $450 million from Elon Musk. Despite this financial advantage, voters reacted negatively to Trump's tariffs, campaign rallies, and a confrontational foreign policy regarding Iran and Gaza. Economic concerns, specifically inflation and the cost of food and petrol, served as primary drivers for the shift toward economic populism.
The elections produced several historic milestones. Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim member of the U.S. Senate, representing Michigan. Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman to govern a state, while other historic victories included the first Latino woman governor in Texas and the first Native American woman governor in New Mexico.
Following the results, House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the accuracy of pre-election data, claiming that polls used faulty analysis. A Pew Research Center analysis supported the notion that polling understated Democratic margins in 23 of 27 governor and Senate races, while prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi had forecasted the Democratic victory with higher confidence than traditional pollsters.
