President Donald Trump faces a divided Washington after the Democratic Party won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 2026 midterm elections. The shift strips Republicans of their legislative majority and threatens to stall the administration’s agenda for its final two years.
Voters delivered a sharp rebuke to the administration on November 3, 2026, handing control of both congressional chambers to the Democrats, according to Associated Press and Reuters reports. The LSM noted that President Trump now enters “lame duck” status as his party’s congressional defeat complicates his remaining time in office until January 20, 2029.
In the elections, all 435 members of the House of Representatives were up for reelection, alongside 35 of the 100 senators in the United States Senate. Gubernatorial races also took place across 36 states and three territories, alongside numerous state legislative and public official contests. Prior to the vote, the House consisted of 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, and one independent member, while Republicans held majorities in both chambers.
In Texas, Democratic candidate James Talariko advanced into a leading position against Republican opponent Ken Paxton. The new 120th Congress is scheduled to begin its official term on January 3, 2027.
Electoral Backlash Over Iran and Costs
Markets reacted swiftly to the election outcome.
Brent crude oil prices dropped by 8.7% to 94.62 dollars per barrel in London, WTI crude fell 8.3% to 88.12 dollars per barrel in New York electronic trading, and European Title Transfer Facility natural gas prices decreased by 3.8% to 88.08 euros per megawatt-hour.
Victory for America!
Investigations and Legislative Gridlock
With majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats gain subpoena power to launch congressional investigations into the executive branch, scrutinize the federal budget, and block presidential appointments. A majority in the Senate allows the party to reject presidential nominations for cabinet ministers, federal agency heads, and judges. While the president retains veto power, overcoming it requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers, forcing the administration into difficult negotiations.
As strategists debated the reasons for the defeat, President Trump deflected questions during a 20-minute White House tour of a newly constructed ballroom project on November 4, 2026, choosing instead to showcase construction details to reporters.
During the tour, Doug Burgum declared November 4 a day of celebration and gratitude as the final ballroom pillar was put in place. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the election results for Republicans as an extinction-level event.
Implications for European Security
The shift in power on Capitol Hill will affect transatlantic allies. The new Congress will hold direct authority over defense spending allocations, foreign aid appropriations, and oversight of military commitments to NATO partners and Ukraine.
Discussing politics on TV24, experts including Mārtiņš Hiršs and Māris Andžāns emphasized that European nations must continue strengthening their own defense capabilities while maintaining bipartisan contacts in Washington without over-identifying with a single political party.