Democrats Win Congress as Voters Rebuke Iran War and Economy
Democrats secured unified control of Congress in a midterm election widely seen as a rebuke of President Trump, driven by voter anger over the costly war in Iran and economic concerns. The new majority is poised to challenge the administration's foreign policy through oversight and budgetary power.
Democrats won the Senate and House, securing unified control of Congress for the first time since 2022. The elections on Tuesday delivered a decisive rebuke of Republican governance in Washington, with voters citing high prices, the Iran war, and concerns over corruption as key frustrations.
Democrats won at least seven Senate seats, marching through some of the most conservative states in the nation. The cascade of surprising victories included states where no Democrat had won statewide office in decades.
Other key wins included Abdul El-Sayed topping Mike Rogers in Michigan, Shomari Figures winning a second term in Alabama's 2nd District, and Jon Ossoff securing reelection in Georgia. In New Hampshire, Chris Pappas won a Senate race to replace retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. President Trump spent nearly every day of the last month holding rallies but was unable to stop the wipeout. He claimed the election was not a referendum on him, blaming Republican candidates for the losses. In a late-night phone interview, he stated, "Voters didn’t like the candidates." Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer called the results a generational remake of the Senate map. House Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the American people are crying out for transformational change. Trump posted on his social media site before polls closed that he wasn't on the ballot and vowed to veto Democrat-controlled legislation.
Voter Anger Over Iran War and Economy Drove Results
A voter poll revealed deep public dissatisfaction with foreign policy and the economy. Seventy-four percent of voters considered the war in Iran a major or key factor in their vote. Sixty-three percent said the war was the wrong decision. Eighty-nine percent called the economy a major or key factor.
The U.S. and Israel have carried out military campaigns against Iran since June 2025. The conflict has cost American taxpayers an estimated $47.1 billion as of mid-October. Iranian retaliatory strikes have targeted U.S. military bases in the Gulf. The Trump administration's foreign policy decisions were no longer just about events abroad. The war drove up gas prices. Tariffs raised costs for American businesses.
Congress Poised to Challenge Foreign Policy Through Oversight
With Democrats controlling Congress, analysts urge the use of appropriations power, investigations, and legislation to reshape foreign policy. Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, sees reason for U.S. allies to regain confidence in American democracy. She outlined three ways Congress could exert influence.
First, using the power of the purse to restrict funding for military operations. "You could see them trying to use the power of the purse, the appropriations committees, to end the war or to influence politics," Applebaum said. Congress cannot force the president to make changes, as Trump can veto legislation. Second, conducting investigations into administration decisions and potential corruption. Applebaum warned about corruption in U.S. foreign policy, stating that people around Trump and his family had accepted money from foreign governments. Third, advancing legislation, such as reimposing sanctions on Russia regarding Ukraine. Support for Ukraine has crossed party lines, and Applebaum expects a bipartisan coalition to become more active. She expects lawmakers to examine Starlink disruptions, administration negotiations, and allegations of business dealings involving negotiators. The Trump administration and SpaceX have offered conflicting accounts regarding disruptions to Ukrainian Starlink services, which hampered Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones.
State-Level Victories and Legal Challenges
Beyond Congress, Democrats scored significant victories at the state level. Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia will be the first Black female governor of any state. Rod Sand won the Iowa governor's race, becoming the first Democrat elected governor there in two decades. Amy Klobuchar was re-elected as governor of Minnesota, and Amy Acton won the Ohio governor's race. In Iowa's congressional districts, Democrats flipped multiple seats: Christina Bohannan defeated Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Sarah Trone Garriott defeated Zach Nunn, and Lindsay James defeated Joe Mitchell. Democrats also flipped control of the Wisconsin Senate. California voters rejected a ballot measure to enhance voter identification requirements.
Republicans signaled resistance. Senate Majority Leader John Thune wrote that Senate Republicans will not stand idly by as the far-left attempts to unwind everything they've done. In Alaska, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit to block certification of Senate results if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, citing a second candidate with the same name on the ballot. Trita Parsi, an Iran expert, said some supporters of the war may see the next two months before the new Congress takes office as their last chance to escalate the conflict. Anne Applebaum does not expect Trump to change. I don't expect Trump to change. He's not that interested in what Americans think of his policies, she said. Congressional leaders will need to act quickly to establish foreign policy priorities before the new Congress convenes.
