Democrats seized control of the US Congress in the midterm elections, turning a sluggish vote into a crushing defeat for Republicans and President Donald Trump, who expressed his "complete willingness to accept the results."
With their majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Democrats now have the upper hand in obstructing Trump's legislative agenda during the final two years of his term and initiating investigations into his officials, as they had promised early on.
The US president offered rare praise for his Democratic opponents on Tuesday, telling Fox News that they had done "a great job," adding, "I shouldn't feel guilty."
Trump told The New York Times, "I am completely prepared to accept those results. We will work with the Democrats, and as you know, we look forward to working with them. We will probably reach agreements."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic frontrunner to become Speaker of the House in the new Congress, told his supporters, "We will hold accountable those who have dragged this country to unprecedented levels of corruption."
He added, "When officials in high office are busy enriching themselves, their families, friends, or donors, they have no interest in improving the lives of the American people."
The election is seen as a referendum on Trump's second term, especially given voter discontent over the rising cost of living, tariffs, and the ongoing war with Iran, which has contributed to soaring fuel prices and pushed the president's approval ratings to record lows.
Trump told Fox News on Tuesday evening that the war with Iran played a role in the Republican Party's resounding defeat.
Commenting on the US election, Iran's chief negotiator and Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Wednesday that the American vote was "no to war."
In a post on the X platform, Qalibaf wrote, "Whether out of conviction or because of the cost of living, Americans have said: No to war, and we support this message."
In one of the biggest surprises of election day, media projections showed Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews defeating her Republican opponent, Trump-backed Darlene Graham, in South Carolina.
Darlene was appointed to fill the vacancy left by her brother, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July. Democrats had not won a Senate race in this conservative state since 1998.
This victory followed a Republican loss in North Carolina, where former Governor Roy Cooper unseated former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, a Trump appointee.
Adam Hamilton's victory over incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas was one of the biggest upsets, making him the first Democrat to win that seat since 1932.
Democrat James Talarico won the U.S. Senate race in Texas, adding another seat to his party's tally.
Democrat Sherrod Brown defeated Republican John Hasted in a hard-fought race for a Senate seat in Ohio.
Democrats also retained key Senate seats, notably in Georgia, where Jon Ossoff won a new term, and in New Hampshire, where Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the Senate.
- Warning of a "Blue Wave" -
The momentum was clearly in the Democrats' favor. Election results showed the extent of the Republican setback, with Democrats making gains in districts that had long been considered Republican strongholds.
In a closely watched race, Democrat Jay D. Ford defeated Republican Representative Victoria Sparts in Indiana.
Analysts had considered the Republican loss in this district an early indicator of a potential Democratic "blue wave."
The party also captured a Republican seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives, while results in Florida showed that redistricting did not deliver the Republicans the gains they had hoped for.
In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governorship, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in US history, ending 24 years of Republican control of the office.
Despite this, Republicans did make some gains. Byron Donald, backed by Trump, won the Florida governorship, becoming the state's first Black governor, while Republican Ashley Moody retained her Senate seat.
Ossoff argued that the Democratic victories demonstrated American voters' rejection of President Donald Trump, whom he described as "corrupt" and "incompetent."
- A "United" White House -
A White House official told AFP that the atmosphere at the US presidential residence is "defiant," warning that the president will continue to confront the "radical left" regardless of the election results. "Get ready," the official cautioned.
A Democratic majority in the House of Representatives would allow congressional committees to investigate the Iran war, mass deportations of immigrants, and allegations of corruption, as well as complicate Trump's efforts to pass new legislation.
Losing the Senate would also threaten his ability to confirm judges and appoint senior administration officials.
For many voters, the cost of living was the central issue in the election.
"Rent, food prices, utility bills, and property taxes keep going up," said Taylor Cook, a 24-year-old voter from Los Angeles. "I want people in Congress who will take real action to address these costs."
Trump defended his policies Tuesday during a televised phone interview with voters on Election Day morning, asserting that his actions on immigration, Iran, and tariffs had helped "rebuild" the country.
Trump told Fox & Friends, "We have to keep America great. We're great now. We were terrible two years ago." Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of dealing with a Congress controlled by the opposition, saying in an interview broadcast Monday, "I'm going to veto everything," before acknowledging the possibility of later reaching agreements with the Democrats.
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