Democrats Win Congress as Trump Reverses Course on Midterm Results

The Democratic victory reached well beyond a change of congressional leadership. Democrats captured both the House and Senate, with their biggest House gains since 1974, according to the New York Post.

Women voters were a driving force behind the result, The Independent reported on November 6. Estimates cited in its coverage suggested 64 million women voted, compared with 56 million men. Those are turnout estimates, not a count of Democratic votes.

By November 7, the breadth of the Democratic gains was becoming clearer. ABCNews.com reported that the wave which flipped Congress had also reached state and local government.

Republican recriminations followed. The Associated Press reported on November 7 that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the elections an "extinction-level event" for the GOP, while Texas Sen. Ted Cruz described a "Watergate-level repudiation." Its reporting put Trump's grip on his party in question.

On November 8, Politico reported that Democrats had flipped more than 500 state legislative seats. That same day, Dawn reported that United States President Donald Trump vowed to bounce back stronger after calling the result a "giant step back in history" for the country.

Trump's response then shifted from disappointment toward questioning the vote. On November 8, Forbes reported that he had reposted critics skeptical of Democratic turnout, but had not himself said the election was rigged or stolen. By November 9, BBC News reported that he was making claims about election integrity without evidence on Truth Social.

The reversal followed his initial willingness to accept the results, according to The New York Times. CNBC reported on November 9 that Trump had also revived a voting-machine conspiracy.

Democratic control of Congress is clear, but the count is not finished everywhere. Yahoo News reported on November 9 that some races remained uncalled despite sweeping Democratic victories. Separate updates from Yahoo identified the Mississippi and Alaska Senate contests as still too close to call.

The political fallout is continuing inside the Republican Party. The Hill reported on November 10 that Republicans returning to Washington were venting anger and frustration after losing both chambers for the final two years of Trump's time in office.

A congressional majority does not settle how Democrats will use their power. Deutsche Welle reported that Trump retains substantial presidential power and that Democrats have yet to agree on their approach.

The immediate business falls to the returning Congress, before the new balance of power takes effect in the new year, according to CBS Top Stories. ABC Top Stories reported that lawmakers must address legislation to avert a government shutdown, a farm bill, FISA reform and the National Defense Authorization Act in the coming weeks.

Uncalled races will determine the final margins. Democrats' legislative plans and leadership disputes also remain in focus: The Hill reported that lawmakers had begun outlining their agenda while congressional leadership was already provoking infighting.