Democrats have won control of the U.S. Senate, delivering a sweeping rebuke to President Donald Trump by capturing key seats in historically Republican territory.
The victory secures the majority required in the 100-member upper chamber, upending the balance of power in Washington for the remainder of Trump’s term.
In a night of dramatic upsets, Democrats successfully defended vulnerable seats and unseated Republican candidates in states that Trump had comfortably carried during the 2024 presidential election.
A crucial victory came in Iowa, where Democrat Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist in wheelchair basketball, defeated Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson to hand the Senate majority to his party.
“Tonight we show the country that when everyday people come together, we can make change,” said former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who flipped another vital Senate seat by defeating Republican Michael Whatley.
Further gains were made in traditionally conservative strongholds.
In Texas, state Representative James Talarico became the first Democrat to win a statewide office since 1994, defeating his Republican opponent.
In South Carolina, paediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Trump’s hand-picked candidate, Darline Graham, for the seat previously held by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown completed a successful comeback bid by unseating Jon Husted, while in Georgia, Democratic incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff secured a second term after defeating Republican challenger Mike Collins.
The Senate flip occurred alongside a projected Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives, handing full control of Congress to the party and establishing a significant legislative barrier for the administration’s policy agenda.