Democrats have reportedly won control of both the US House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, delivering a major political blow to President Donald Trump and his Republican administration.

According to projections by US media networks, Democrats have made significant gains across several battleground states, reshaping the balance of power in Washington and complicating Trump’s legislative agenda for the final two years of his presidency.

One of the major developments was Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s reported defeat to Democrat Amy Acton in Ohio, according to CNN projections. Democrats also reportedly flipped a Republican-held Senate seat in South Carolina, further strengthening their position in the upper chamber.

Results from Ohio, Georgia and North Carolina indicated growing difficulties for Republicans, with projections pointing to a strong Democratic performance in several closely contested races.

The 2026 midterm elections were widely viewed as a referendum on Trump’s second term. Voters considered several major issues, including the economy, rising living costs, immigration policies and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats were contested, alongside gubernatorial elections in 36 states. Before the elections, Republicans held a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats needed a net gain of three House seats and four Senate seats to secure control of both chambers.

The Democratic victories could significantly change the political environment in Washington. With control of Congress, Democrats will have greater authority to scrutinise the Trump administration, conduct congressional investigations and challenge presidential policies.

Potential areas of confrontation include immigration enforcement, federal spending, trade tariffs and the administration’s foreign policy decisions.

Trump had previously warned that he could veto legislation passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress, although he also indicated that negotiations could remain possible.

The outcome signals a difficult period ahead for the president, as a divided political environment could slow his legislative priorities and increase congressional scrutiny of his administration.