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Democrats win US House and Senate in midterms, NBC and CBS project; Trump loses full control of Congress
High prices, tariffs and the Iran war weighed on voters; counting was still under way in dozens of House races and two Senate contests.
Democrats have won control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, NBC News and CBS News projected, ending the period in which President Donald Trump's party held both chambers. Counting was still going on in dozens of races on Wednesday.
What is projected
- House. CBS News projected a Democratic House majority at 10:15 pm Eastern time on Tuesday. NBC News projects Democrats will win about 255 seats, well above the 218 needed for a majority, and says the figure could shift by a few seats. Democrats held 215 seats before the election, NBC said.
- Senate. CBS projected at about 11:35 pm that Democrats had gained control of the Senate, and NBC projects the same. CBS listed Democratic pick-ups in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maine.
- Still open. About 75 House races were undecided at 4:19 am Eastern, CBS said. In the Senate, Alaska and Mississippi had not been called at 4:20 am.
Democrats take over the House on 3 January, NBC reported. It will be the first time in Trump's second term that he does not have full control of Congress.
What the leaders said
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader, who is expected to become the first Black Speaker, said "America is back," CBS reported. Senate Republican leader John Thune wrote on X that "we still have President Trump in the White House." Trump said Republicans would "work with the Democrats," CBS reported, citing his remarks on a Politico livestream.
Why voters turned
CBS cited exit polls that put Trump's approval at 38%, which it said may be a record low for a president in a midterm, along with high prices and tariffs, and the effect of the Iran war on energy prices. NBC called the result widely seen as a referendum on Trump's policies, including immigration enforcement, the Iran war and tariffs.
What changes in Washington
Democrats will gain subpoena power and committee control, which lets them open investigations into the administration, NBC said. They will be able to pass bills in the House by a simple majority, though any law still needs the Senate and the president's signature. NBC listed their stated priorities as reversing Medicaid cuts, extending Affordable Care Act credits, restoring Congress's authority over tariffs and ending the war with Iran. Jeffries said the party has not ruled impeachment in or out, according to NBC.
Speaker Mike Johnson's future is uncertain, NBC said.
These are projections by news organisations. BDT will update this story as final results are certified.
How we verified this
VerifiedThese are media projections, not certified results. NBC News and CBS News each project that Democrats win control of the House and the Senate, and CNN’s live coverage headline says the same; BDT read the NBC and CBS pages in full and could not open CNN’s page, so CNN is cited only for its headline. The seat estimate of about 255 is NBC’s and may change. CBS said about 75 House races were undecided at 4:19 am ET and that Alaska and Mississippi were uncalled in the Senate at 4:20 am ET. Quotes are as reported by CBS and NBC. Final certified totals may differ.
