Democrats Flip Over 40 House Seats, Seize Full Congress in Stunning Rebuke to Trump

Democrats won control of both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, returning the party to full power in Congress for the first time since 2023 [278780][278572]. The party flipped more than 40 seats held by Republicans, including perennial swing districts and seats once considered deep red [280317].

Voter anger over high prices, corruption and the unchecked spread of data centers drove the win, and some of the same concerns also lifted Democrats to victories in statehouses across the country [279186]. The results give the party a clear mandate to check Donald Trump's turbulent presidency [279186].

With Congress now in Democratic hands, an impeachment investigation is possible. Supporters say such an investigation would increase transparency and allow Congress to reassert its authority [278780]. The dual victories deepen the friction expected between Democratic lawmakers and President Trump [278572].

Democrats now control Congress, giving them major influence over US policy. "It will certainly be a long line of proposals from Congress. Then it will be the president who has to say no, no, no," says US expert Dag Blanck [279626].

President Trump still holds the power to veto Democratic bills. Congress can override a veto, but only with a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate — a high bar that will be difficult for Democrats to reach [279652].

Democrats are preparing a series of investigations. The Trump administration's equity stakes in U.S. companies will soon face scrutiny from the new Congress, with lawmakers preparing to investigate the government's role as a shareholder in private businesses [281841]. Democrats also plan to investigate JPMorgan Chase's years-long relationship with Jeffrey Epstein once they take control of the Senate. The probe will examine why the bank kept Epstein as a client after Mary Erdoes, a top executive, heard claims that he paid to have underage girls brought to his home [280366].

A senior Democratic lawmaker says his party will move to end U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on allies, including Canada, once it takes control of Congress next year [279392].

The cryptocurrency industry's remarkable run of political success in Washington has stopped suddenly. The industry now faces the possibility of stricter regulations and closer examination of its connections to President Donald Trump [281919].

Democratic election winners and progressive lawmakers are calling for stricter limits on artificial intelligence and data centers following the 2026 midterm elections. The group is urging a national moratorium on new data center construction, arguing that rapid AI expansion needs stronger oversight [280346].

Newly elected Democratic senators are signaling they will not support Chuck Schumer for majority leader, even as he likely retains enough support within his caucus to keep the top Democrat position. Annie Andrews, the Democratic senator-elect from South Carolina, said: "I still very much believe it's time for generational change on both sides of the aisle." Other incoming lawmakers, from Annie Andrews and Adam Hamilton to Abdul El-Sayed, have also indicated they will not support him [281563].

President Donald Trump has named immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles. The decision comes just days after the Republican Party suffered a resounding defeat in the midterm elections. Miller's new role gives him broad control over the president's staff and daily agenda [281101].

The far-right's culture wars are losing their grip, and Trump's midterm losses prove it. The results reveal a growing fatigue with ultraconservative agendas [282173].