Blue tsunami swerps Washington : Democrats seize both House, Senate in stunning rebuke to Trump, shifts matters for Bangladesh
Hemayet Hossain from USA
In a verdict that has redrawn the map of American power, voters handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, delivering the most sweeping midterm repudiation of a sitting president in two decades.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate's 100 seats were contested, along with 36 governorships.
By early Wednesday, major US networks including CNN, ABC, Fox and BBC affiliates following AP calls had projected a Democratic majority in both houses. It is the first time in 20 years that a Republican president has lost control of both houses, after George W Bush in 2006. 6970
In the House, Democrats have won 228 seats so far and are leading in 34 others. That puts them on course for more than 260 seats, their biggest strength since 1990, when they won 267 seats. The Republicans held 220 seats after the 2024 elections, while Democrats had 215. 6970
In the Senate, Democrats have won 54 seats and are leading in another, while Republicans have won 44 seats and are leading in one. To control the Senate, a party needs 51 seats. 6970
Democrats needed a net gain of just four seats in the Senate. They cleared that bar by flipping at least seven Republican-held seats.
Where the wave broke :
The flips came not just in battlegrounds, but deep in red America:
Texas : James Talarico beat Ken Paxton to win the Senate seat, while Gina Hinojosa won the governorship. Texas turned blue as Democrats took the governorship and the open Senate seat.
Kansas: Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat to win a Kansas Senate seat since 1932, breaking the longest Democratic drought in the country.
- *South Carolina:* Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham, chosen by Trump to serve out the remainder of the late Senator Lindsey Graham's term, in a traditionally red state.
Iowa, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina:
Democrats flipped seats in Iowa, Ohio, Maine and North Carolina, and retained key seats in Georgia and Michigan.
Maine: Troy Jackson defeated nearly 30-year incumbent Susan Collins.
Michigan : Abdul El-Sayed beat Mike Rogers to become the nation's first Muslim US senator. b576c5d79bf9
In the House, Democrats flipped more than two dozen Republican-held districts, including several that had voted for Trump by double-digit margins in 2024. 9bf9
Two Senate races, in Alaska and Mississippi, remained too close to call on Wednesday morning. In Mississippi, the candidates were separated by just 43 votes. eb23
Governors and history makers :
Democratic candidates Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, Amy Acton in Ohio, Rob Sand in Iowa and Gina Hinojosa in Texas won races for governor, defeating Republicans. 9bf9
In Texas, Hinojosa became the first Hispanic woman governor. In Georgia, Bottoms became the first Black woman governor. In Florida, Byron Donalds became the first Black Republican governor. c5d7
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the first Black Speaker of the House after Democrats were projected to regain control of the chamber. 9bf9
Why voters revolted :
The elections came as the cost of living in the US has surged since the start of the Iran war, with prices for petrol, food and other necessities remaining high. b576
According to the AP Voter Poll, many voters blamed Trump's administration for high living costs and wanted Congress to exercise greater checks on his power. 9bf9
Half of registered voters rated the economy as extremely important this year, with healthcare costs and the war in Iran also top among issues rated in an October 29 Gallup poll. b576
President Trump said he is absolutely willing to accept the results. Later, the White House posted on X, "PSA: Trump is still your president." eb23
What happens next :
The new Congress will be sworn in on January 3, 2027. With both chambers now in Democratic hands, analysts say Trump's legislative agenda, including funding for the Iran war, immigration crackdowns and tariff policy, will face immediate gridlock, investigations and possible impeachment pressure.
For Bangladesh and the rest of the world, the shift matters. A Democratic Congress is expected to push for a tougher check on executive power, renewed focus on climate finance, trade stability and human rights diplomacy, issues closely watched in Dhaka.
For now, Washington has spoken. The red wall cracked in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina. America, in 2026, turned blue, setting the stage for a dramatic political showdown over the final two years of the Trump presidency.
