Democrats win US Congress as Republicans debate midterm losses

DOHA | 05-11-2026 : Democrats have won both chambers of the US Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, according to BBC News, as victories in Republican strongholds brought a leadership contest and competing explanations for defeat among Republicans. Several races remained unresolved, including a closely fought Senate contest in Mississippi.

The BBC’s published results tracker showed Democrats with 54 Senate seats and Republicans with 44, with 33 of the 35 contested seats counted. In the House of Representatives, it listed 239 Democratic seats and 147 Republican seats, with 386 of 435 races counted. Those figures were incomplete tallies, not final totals.

Iran war features in Republican response

The war in Iran emerged as a central issue in Republican reactions. According to BBC News, President Donald Trump acknowledged that the US-Israel war on Iran and its impact on consumer prices had affected the vote. He argued that higher fuel prices had prevented voters from recognising what he considered the economy’s strengths.

The Guardian reported that JD Vance identified the war as the clear reason for the Republican defeat. Its subsequent coverage also described Trump attributing the party’s poor performance to his absence from the ballot, despite having urged supporters to vote as though he were running.

BBC News reported that Trump said he would accept the results and looked forward to working with Democrats. The president nevertheless retains the ability to veto legislation passed by Congress, the outlet noted.

Other Republicans offered different explanations. According to the Guardian, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said the party had failed in part to direct advertising spending towards issues that would motivate voters. The outlet also reported Republican criticism of defense secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of the war, while noting Trump’s public support for him.

Breakthroughs in Texas and Kansas

Democratic gains extended to states Trump comfortably won in the presidential election two years earlier, BBC News reported. In Texas, James Talarico won a US Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa won the governorship, breaking a long run of statewide Democratic defeats. Hinojosa became the first Latina elected governor of Texas.

The Guardian additionally reported that Democrats won control of the Texas state house. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton’s Senate victory gave the state its first Democratic senator in nearly a century, according to the BBC.

Michigan elected Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim person to win a US Senate seat, BBC News reported. He defeated Republican Mike Rogers, keeping the seat in Democratic hands. In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson defeated veteran Republican senator Susan Collins.

Al Jazeera characterised the election as delivering historic firsts for women, Black, Muslim, gay and Native American politicians. Its supplied report did not provide individual details of those breakthroughs.

Leadership decisions and unfinished counts

Hakeem Jeffries formally announced his candidacy for House speaker, according to the Guardian. BBC News reported that, if chosen, he would become the first Black person to hold the role. The Guardian also reported that Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan launched campaigns to lead House Republicans in the minority.

In Mississippi, the Guardian’s latest supplied update put Democrat Scott Colom 1,138 votes ahead of Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, with 96% of the vote counted. The race remained unresolved. In Alaska, the outlet reported Democrat Mary Peltola leading Republican Dan S. Sullivan by 626 votes, with the result also outstanding.

Democratic leaders meanwhile outlined their priorities. According to the Guardian, Jeffries emphasised affordability, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer identified lowering costs and tackling corruption as the party’s goals after securing Congress.

Sources: BBC News; The Guardian; Al Jazeera.