Democrats have taken control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the US midterm elections, dealing a major blow to President Donald Trump after a series of historic defeats.
The results saw Democrats flip Republican-held Senate seats in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, Maine and North Carolina, while also regaining control of the House.
Referendum on Trump's presidency
The elections were widely seen as a referendum on Trump's presidency, with voter dissatisfaction over the cost of living, tariffs and rising energy prices among the key issues.
Trump admitted the results had surprised him, telling Fox News: “I thought they'd do better.” He later claimed on Truth Social that Republicans would have won by a landslide if he had been on the ballot.
Notable victories and governorships
Among the notable victories, James Talarico became the first Democrat elected to represent Texas in the Senate in nearly four decades, while pastor Adam Hamilton secured the first Democratic Senate victory in Kansas in almost a century.
Democrats also won several governorships, including in Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Texas, further strengthening their gains.
Criticism and Trump's response
The results have prompted criticism of Trump, with Democratic senator Jon Ossoff describing the victories as a rejection of the president's “depravity, corruption, and incompetence”.
Despite congratulating Democrats and offering to work with them, Trump suggested he could use his presidential veto to block legislation passed by the newly Democratic-controlled Congress.
