Democrats win US midterms, Trump's party loses control of Congress
Democrats won the US midterm elections for Congress, including in states that had backed Republicans for decades. Experts say the result will limit President Donald Trump's freedom of action on the budget and affect relations with US allies.
The Democratic Party has won the US midterm elections, in which Americans chose a new Congress, and has taken control of both chambers that had been held by President Donald Trump's Republican Party. Wins also came in states that had backed Republicans for decades. The outcome and its consequences were discussed on the LSM programme "Let's Discuss This Evening".
What midterms are
Midterm elections are held halfway through a presidential term and let voters assess the course of the president and his party. Congress has two chambers: the House of Representatives, chiefly responsible for legislation and the budget, and the Senate, which confirms key presidential appointments and international treaties. Governors and local officials were also elected at the same time.
In Texas, which had been a Republican state for more than 30 years, supporters are celebrating the victory of Democrat James Talarico. Local residents cited expensive groceries and petrol at almost 4 dollars as reasons for wanting change.
Experts: Trump faces a choice
Sandis Schraders, a researcher at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, said the vote was pragmatic: Trump's promises to voters, including MAGA supporters, were not fulfilled, and the average American feels economically insecure. In his view, Trump can no longer shape long-term budget planning alone through his party, including for foreign policy.
Americanist and political scientist Alexandra Filippenko said Trump now faces a fork: confront the Democrats hard and veto bills, or strike a deal with Congress, dropping tariffs and moving closer to Europe and NATO. In exchange, she said, Congress might refrain from going after Trump and his circle, though it is unclear whether Congress would agree.
Trump himself wrote on the social network TRUTH SOCIAL that he was not on the ballot and would have won in a landslide if he had been. He nevertheless promised to recognise the results.
Impact on allies and Ukraine
Filippenko expects European matters to be pushed into the background at first, as the new Congress focuses on the economy and investigations. She anticipates a bill fixing the number of US troops in NATO territory and a strengthening of NATO around mid-2027. Ukraine and Russia will feature indirectly through investigations, including into the actions of Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
The new Congress will begin work on 3 January 2027; until then both chambers remain under Republican control.
