The opposition regained control of the House of Representatives and won the Senate, a result that contrasts sharply with Donald Trump's victory in 2024 and will limit his ability to advance his agenda during the final two years of his term. Texas, a key conservative stronghold, saw some of the most surprising electoral shifts
WASHINGTON– The Democratic Party achieved a resounding victory in the midterm elections held this Tuesday, November 3, wresting control of both houses of the US Congress from the Republicans and winning important traditionally conservative territories, in a result that represents a major political setback for President Donald Trump, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.
The magnitude of the victory exceeded initial predictions, which anticipated a Democratic recovery of the House of Representatives but a closer race for the Senate. Nevertheless, the opposition managed to win in both legislative bodies and could reach 244 seats in the House, well above the 218 needed for a majority.
This outcome significantly alters the balance of power in Washington, as Trump will have to face the second half of his term with a Congress controlled by his political adversaries, who will have the power to block legislative initiatives, investigate the actions of his Administration, and condition his main decisions.
From the Republican triumph of 2024 to the overwhelming Democratic victory
To understand the magnitude of this setback, it is necessary to compare it with the presidential elections of November 2024, when Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris and obtained 312 electoral votes compared to his opponent's 226.
On that day, the Republican also won in strategic states like Texas, where he received 56.2% of the votes, compared to the 42.5% achieved by Harris.
However, the 2026 electoral landscape presents a significant contrast, especially in that territory, where Democrats managed to defeat emblematic figures of conservatism and break decades of Republican dominance in state and federal offices.
This shift is further highlighted by the contrast with the 2022 midterm elections, when Republicans won the House of Representatives with 222 seats, while their opponents retained control of the Senate. Now, four years later, the opposition has managed to reverse the situation and gain control of both chambers.
Texas breaks decades of Republican dominance
One of the most significant events of the day occurred in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton and became the first candidate from his party elected to the federal Senate for that state in 38 years.
The conservative setback also extended to the governorship. Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth consecutive term, and will become the first Latina woman to hold that office.
In this way, the Democrats put an end to more than three decades of conservative dominance in the Texas governorship and make progress in a jurisdiction that had largely supported Trump during the 2024 presidential elections.
Likewise, voter behavior points to a possible shift in the preferences of sectors of the Latino electorate, whose support had contributed to the Republican victory two years earlier.
Meanwhile, Kansas also recorded a historic result with the victory of Adam Hamilton, who broke a streak of almost a century without a Democrat winning a seat in the federal Senate for that state.
These gains were complemented by victories in North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, and Ohio, which helped consolidate the opposition's advance in territories traditionally favorable to the Republican Party.
What does this defeat mean for Donald Trump?
Beyond the election result, the loss of control of Congress represents one of the biggest political obstacles for Trump during the second half of his presidency, because Democrats will have greater institutional tools to oversee his administration and limit his initiatives.
First, the new majority in the House of Representatives will be able to block or modify legislative projects promoted by the White House, as well as open investigations into the actions of the Government and its officials.
Similarly, it will have the power to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president or members of his cabinet. However, any removal from office would require the support of two-thirds of the senators present in the Senate.
For their part, control of the Senate will allow Democrats to exert influence over foreign policy decisions and obstruct the confirmation of certain presidential appointments, including those related to the federal judiciary.
Consequently, the president will have to negotiate with an opposition that now has greater power to influence his agenda. This could make it more difficult to pass new legislation and force his administration to seek agreements with Democratic lawmakers.
Trump tries to distance himself from the election setback
Despite the magnitude of the defeat, the president tried to distance himself from the results through a message published on his platform Truth Social, where he argued that his name did not appear on the ballots.
"I didn't run in the election, and if I had, we would have won by a landslide! Thank you for your attention to this matter," he wrote.
However, during the campaign, Trump actively participated in political events and rallies, endorsed Republican candidates, and urged his supporters to vote, taking into account his presidential record.
His prominence turned the elections into a kind of evaluation of his second term, amid discontent from sectors of the population over the cost of living, inflation, the rising cost of fuel, the effects of tariffs and his immigration policy.
Later, in statements to The New York Times, the president acknowledged that the results pointed to a Democratic victory and expressed his willingness to work with the new legislative majority.
A new political scenario for the last two years of the term
The opposition victory transforms the American political landscape for the final two years of Trump's presidency, who will no longer be able to count on majority support in both houses to advance his government program.
At the same time, Republicans will have to reorganize their legislative and electoral strategy, while Democrats will assume the responsibility of exercising parliamentary control and presenting alternatives to the policies of the White House.
In short, the November 3rd elections not only represent a significant territorial recovery for the opposition, but also establish a new balance of power in the United States, with a Congress that can act as a counterweight to presidential decisions during the final stretch of Trump's term.
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