Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Democratic Party has secured control of both chambers of the US Congress following the midterm elections held on 3 November.
The result will significantly limit President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his legislative agenda during the remaining two years of his term in the White House.
According to preliminary projections by US media outlets, Democrats have won majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. At least 218 of the House’s 435 seats are required to control the lower chamber. According to CNN’s estimate, Democrats have secured 54 of the Senate’s 100 seats.
Some of the most notable results came from states that have traditionally supported Republicans.
In Texas, James Talarico became the first Democrat elected to the US Senate from the state since 1988. Gina Hinojosa won the gubernatorial election, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office in more than 30 years.
In Kansas, Adam Hamilton defeated incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall. As a result, the state will have a Democratic senator for the first time since 1932.
Democrats also made gains in several Midwestern states, including Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio, where Republicans have strengthened their positions in recent years.
The result in Michigan attracted particular attention. According to CNN’s projection, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers, becoming the first Muslim in the history of the US Senate.
Trump's Reaction
The Democratic victory in both chambers of Congress will complicate efforts to implement the Trump administration’s legislative initiatives.
Control of Congress will also allow Democrats to intensify investigations into the administration’s activities and business projects linked to the president.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said he was prepared to accept a Republican defeat in the elections.
Later, in an interview with Fox News, he said he was somewhat surprised by the results, as he had expected Republicans to perform better. The president attributed the party’s setback to the fact that his name was not on the ballot.
Trump said he did not regard the outcome as a personal defeat, noting that incumbent administrations traditionally face the risk of losing ground in midterm elections.
The president also said he was ready to work with a Democratic majority but warned that he intended to use his veto power if he disagreed with legislation passed by Congress.
Trump said he would veto any proposals sent to him for signing that he considered unacceptable.
However, he expressed confidence that after several such instances, the two sides would be able to reach an agreement and work together.
