Democrats win US House and Senate in major defeat for Trump

Democrats won the House and Senate in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, PBS NewsHour reported. The result dealt President Donald Trump a major defeat and ended Republican control of Congress.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz acknowledged that his party had lost both chambers. He said Republican voters, independents and libertarians had turned against its candidates, CBS News reported.

The count was still open in some races. PBS said Alaska’s Senate contest was undecided, with about a quarter of votes still to count. Mississippi’s race was also too close to call.

Deutsche Welle reported at least 237 Democratic House seats against 139 Republican seats. CBS News estimated the final Democratic total could reach 251 to 268. Neither figure was a final tally.

James Talarico won a Senate seat in Texas, Deutsche Welle reported. He became the state’s first Democratic senator since 1988. Gina Hinojosa also won the race for governor, ending more than 30 years without a Democratic winner.

In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson, PBS reported. Adam Hamilton won a Senate seat in Kansas, the party’s first such victory there in almost a century.

Democrats take control in January. They have pledged a plan for their first 100 days to cut fuel, food and healthcare costs, Deutsche Welle reported. They also plan to investigate Trump and his government.

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader, said he was open to talks with Republicans. He said the party was not at present seeking to impeach Trump or his cabinet, Deutsche Welle reported.

Trump has said he would use his veto but also work with Democrats, PBS reported. Most bills need 60 Senate votes to clear a blocking tactic known as the filibuster, Al Jazeera reported. Democrats would still need Republican help.

Vice-President JD Vance blamed the defeat on the Iran war. Trump instead stressed prices, PBS reported. Deutsche Welle described Trump’s response as an apparent admission that the war’s cost had hurt his party.