Democrats Rout GOP

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in a sweeping midterm rebuke of President Trump, flipping at least seven Republican Senate seats and capturing the House despite Republican redistricting efforts. Their Senate victories included Maine, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas - states where Republicans had long held power. James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in Texas, Troy Jackson unseated Susan Collins in Maine, and Sherrod Brown returned to the Senate by winning in Ohio. Results in Alaska and Mississippi were still being counted, leaving open the possibility of a larger Democratic majority. Trump said he would accept the results and was willing to work with Democrats.

Democrats also scored major gubernatorial wins, including Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, Gina Hinojosa in Texas and Amy Acton in Ohio. The outcome reflected broad dissatisfaction with Trump and Republicans’ support for his agenda; Democratic candidates tied voters’ economic frustration to the administration and its war in Iran. Republicans’ efforts to portray Democrats as extreme failed to protect several deep-red seats, while redrawn districts in Florida and North Carolina also fell to Democrats. Republicans did hold Florida’s Senate seat, where Ashley Moody defeated Angie Nixon. Election Day saw limited disruptions, including machine problems, flooding-related polling-place moves and delays, but some contests could take days to resolve.