US midterms takeaways: Democrats surge, Republicans face voter backlash

President Donald Trump repeatedly encouraged voters to pretend he was on the midterm ballot. They did. And it went very badly for him and his Republican Party. People react at a US midterms elections night watch party hosted by the Congressional Progressive Staff Association (CPSA) and Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), in Washington, DC, US, November 3, 2026.

(REUTERS)Voters absolutely punished Trump’s allies in swing states and Republican strongholds alike on Tuesday, giving Democrats key victories across New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and even South Carolina. Trump’s controversial mid-decade redistricting plan appeared to backfire.

In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history, while Texas elected Democrat Gina Hinojosa as its first Latina governor. Voters nationwide were in the mood for change, according to the AP Voter Poll, which found that roughly three-quarters of voters feel “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the direction of the country.

Among those who had Trump in mind when they cast their vote, about twice as many wanted to express opposition to the Republican president as those who wanted to support him. Most also blamed the Trump administration for high costs: about 6 in 10 say higher than usual prices are “more because of Trump’s policies." Trump's coalition was also fraying: Young voters and Hispanics appear to have shifted away from the GOP after warming to Trump in 2024.

With undeniable momentum, Democrats were eyeing majorities in the House and Senate, which would curb Trump’s power after he’s faced few limits from a compliant Republican-controlled Congress. Here are some takeaways from Tuesday's midterms: Tuesday's electoral beating appeared to be a direct repudiation of Trump, who demanded loyalty across his party and brought Republicans to the midterms saddled by his dismal approval ratings, an unpopular war with Iran, and surging costs for millions of frustrated Americans.

Indeed, Trump's political strength is hitting a new low roughly two years before his final term ends. The AP Voter Poll confirms that voters are deeply unhappy with the Republican president, with roughly 6 in 10 saying they disapprove of his job performance.

About 70% of voters want Congress to provide more checks and balances on the presidency. And roughly 6 in 10 voters said Trump places a higher priority on his personal interests than the country’s interests. Trump was betting that his base of white working-class voters — and an increased share of young people and voters of color — which fueled his presidential victory in 2024 could save his Republican allies if they show up in great numbers.

The AP Voter Poll indicates a substantial shift in young people and Hispanics moving away from Republicans compared to Trump's victory just two years ago. Voters under 30 were about evenly split between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

But in this election, about 7 in 10 voters in that same age nationally say they supported the Democratic House candidate in their area. Such shifts will echo into the 2028 presidential contest, which unofficially begins on Wednesday.

Since World War II, the House and Senate have flipped from one party to the other in the same midterm just three times: 1946, 1994 and 2006. Democrats are on the brink of doing it again in 2026. They are winning virtually everywhere in a truly historic sweep.

Democrats won Senate and governor's races in Georgia, Ohio and Texas — the latter two states Trump carried by 11 and 14 percentage points, respectively. In North Carolina, Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper won the Senate race.

Sen. Jon Ossoff easily won reelection in Georgia, while Lance Bottoms won the Georgia governorship. New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas won his Senate election, which will make him the only openly gay senator. In Ohio, former Ohio Sen.

Sherrod Brown flipped a GOP-held Senate seat, while former state health official Amy Acton beat close Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy in the governor's race.