Democrats have won control of both the House of Representatives and Senate, putting House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York in position to become the first Black speaker of the House in U.S. history.
The sweeping victory alters the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term, giving Democrats the power to investigate his administration, block legislation supporting some of his policies and reject presidential nominees, including judicial appointments.
Democrats hailed the victory as a referendum on Trump’s unpopular policies, including what they consider his cruel and “out-of-control” immigration mandates and the ongoing Iran war. They also pointed to tariffs that have raised costs for American consumers and allegations of corruption involving the president and his family’s business interests.
Democrats flipped a number of GOP-held House seats, including North Carolina’s 11th District, where Jamie Ager defeated Republican Jennifer Balkcom. NBC News projected Democrats could win approximately 248 seats, potentially their largest House majority in nearly two decades.
The party also captured Republican-held Senate seats in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas and Ohio. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, while former Sen. Sherrod Brown reclaimed his Ohio seat from Republican Jon Husted. The victories gave Democrats control of the Senate for the first time since January 2025.
When the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, Republicans will lose control of both chambers for the first time in Trump’s second term. Democrats accuse the GOP-controlled House and Senate of failing to check Trump’s use of executive powers to impose sweeping tariffs, withhold congressionally approved funding and dismantle federal agencies through DOGE cuts and other actions.
Asked by CNN on election night about his relationship with Trump if he becomes speaker, Jeffries said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York is also expected to return as majority leader. Democrats will have the power to block Trump’s judicial nominees and challenge his administration’s legislative agenda, setting up a confrontation with the White House over the final two years of his presidency.
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.