Democrats capture Congress as Republican losses extend to Texas

Democrats won control of the House and Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, securing majorities larger than many projections had suggested just weeks earlier. The results delivered a setback to President Trump after he campaigned across the country to mobilize Republican voters. The final size of both congressional majorities remained unsettled early Wednesday.

Democrats held 54 Senate seats, while the contests in Alaska and Mississippi remained unresolved. Their gains included South Carolina and Kansas, where Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall to deliver the party’s first Senate victory in the state in almost a century. At 1 a.m. Eastern Time, Decision Desk HQ, The Hill’s polling and data partner, projected Democrats would win 256 House seats, comfortably exceeding the 218 required for control.

The Republican losses came amid voter dissatisfaction with living costs, the economy, the war in Iran and Trump’s presidency. The Decision Desk HQ polling average showed his approval rating running 20 points below his disapproval rating. Trump attributed the outcome to Republican candidates during a midnight Fox News interview and in social media posts. Some Republicans, however, questioned his contribution to the defeats, including losses by candidates he had backed in important Senate contests.

Texas produced two major Democratic victories. State Rep. James Talarico, 37, defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Senate seat, while state Rep. Gina Hinojosa beat Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. With 90 percent of ballots counted at 2 a.m. Eastern Time, Talarico led by roughly 10 points. Abbott, who had served three terms, conceded to Hinojosa and appeared headed for a loss of about seven points.

Trump had helped Paxton defeat incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary. Republicans had expressed concerns about Paxton’s history, including a settlement of securities fraud charges, allegations of adultery and his impeachment by the state House. Talarico also faced personal attacks during the campaign, including a mocking nickname from Trump and insinuations about his sexuality from Republicans including Vice President Vance.

In Michigan, Decision Desk HQ projected Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate victory shortly before 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The former public health official will become the country’s first Muslim senator. His victory followed Islamophobic attacks from Trump and an endorsement of Republican opponent Mike Rogers by Rep. Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed had defeated in the Democratic primary.

Democrat Amy Acton also won Ohio’s governorship, defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy after a contentious campaign. An advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother attacking her credibility drew criticism from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and former Gov. John Kasich. Although counting continued in several prominent races early Wednesday, the broader results aligned with polling that had forecast substantial Democratic gains.