Did America Just Rebuke Trump — or Did Democrats Win Without a Mandate?

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/2026-us-midterm-elections-democrats-house-20261103.html canonical: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/2026-us-midterm-elections-democrats-house-20261103.html captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:36:19.090Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- WASHINGTON — Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, delivering a decisive rebuke of Republican governance in Washington and ushering in a new era of congressional resistance to President Donald Trump . Tuesday’s midterm elections laid bare voters’ deep frustrations over high prices, the Iran war and concerns over government corruption. Democrats routed their rivals across the map, flipping states that have voted Republican for decades and that Trump won by double digits just two years ago. That includes James Talarico’s stunning Senate victory in Texas, where no Democrat had won statewide office in more than 30 years, and Annie Andrews’ upset victory over Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina. Trump had thrown his full weight behind both losing candidates. In Michigan, progressive Abdul El-Sayed — one of a crop of left-wing candidates who prevailed in Democratic primaries — topped Republican Mike Rogers. Even Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a battle-tested survivor of difficult elections, lost to Democrat Troy Jackson. The results marked a fundamental unraveling of the coalition that returned Trump to the White House two years ago, with young people and Latinos moving away from Republicans , according to The AP Voter Poll . Only about one-third of Hispanic voters said they backed the Republican in their local U.S. House races. It was all a major blow to Trump, who spent nearly every day of the last month holding rallies to energize his supporters but was unable to stop a wipeout. While Trump has proven adept at steamrolling efforts to rein him in, Democratic control will profoundly reshape Trump’s final two years in office and hamstring his legislative agenda. Party leaders have signaled they’ll use their new power to ensure Trump’s final two years in office are dominated by a series of investigations of top members of his administration and deeper scrutiny of how he’s enriched his family. Impeachment of Trump and his cabinet officials is not off the table. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and tech titan Elon Musk, a former top Trump adviser , are among possible targets for investigations. In celebratory events Tuesday night, Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer called the results a “generational remake of the Senate map.” Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries said “the American people are crying out for transformational change.” Trump immediately sought to shift blame for his party’s losses, posting on his social media site before polls even closed on the West Coast that he wasn’t on the ballot — even though he spent weeks asking voters to act like he was. He vowed to veto Democrat-controlled legislation, sharing a picture of a red baseball cap with “VETO” stenciled in the style of his trademark “Make America Great Again” campaign swag. In a late-night phone interview with Fox News, Trump said he didn’t consider the elections to be a personal defeat. Voters, he said, “didn’t like the candidates.” Democrats had braced for Trump to again try to undermine the results if they won after he warned that noncitizens would cast ballots en masse and filed lawsuits in Alaska and California . Instead, he said on Fox that he would accept them. Despite the results, Senate Majority Leader John Thune wrote on X that “Senate Republicans will not stand idly by as the far-left, socialist wing of the Democrat Party attempts to unwind everything we’ve done.” He said they will work with Trump “to stop the worst impulses of Democrat extremism.” Midterm elections are typically difficult for the president’s party, but Republicans had originally expected that their Senate majority was safe. Instead, Democrats marched through some of the most conservative states in the nation. Josh Turek defeated Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa, while Adam Hamilton ousted Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas to become the state’s first Democratic senator since 1932. A cascade of surprising Democratic victories included Talarico defeating Ken Paxton in Texas, Andrews upsetting Graham in South Carolina, Sherrod Brown topping Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio, and Roy Cooper taking an open North Carolina seat. Trump played an outsized role in many of the races. He endorsed the scandal-plagued Paxton and helped him defeat incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas primary, even as Republican officials warned his efforts could be costly. He sharply criticized North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who opted not to seek reelection. He also supported Graham, despite doubts within the party that she was the right candidate to replace her brother, who died unexpectedly earlier this year. Less of a surprise was Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff winning reelection in Georgia, defeating Rep. Mike Collins. Rep. Chris Pappas also won a Senate race in New Hampshire, defeating former Sen. John Sununu to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. One outstanding Senate battleground was Alaska, where the Trump administration filed a lawsuit to block certification of Senate results if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses the race, citing the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot. Mississippi’s Senate race remained too early to call. In the House, Democrats reached deeply into Trump-won territory to defeat his preferred candidates and win in even some of the most Republican states. There were multiple Democratic pickups in Iowa, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania and new Democratic seats in Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Utah. In Iowa, there was an all-Republican congressional delegation going into the election. Democrats will now represent three of them. Bracing for a tough night, Republicans had spent the campaign’s final stretch pumping tens of millions of dollars into states and districts that Trump won handily two years ago, as Trump campaigned in heavily red areas. But even Republicans’ money advantage didn’t stem the Democratic tide. “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” Trump wrote on his social media site. Voters were sour heading into Tuesday, deeply unhappy with the country’s direction and pessimistic about the future, according to the AP Voter Poll . Most said they felt frustrated, with about three-quarters saying they felt “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the country’s current trajectory. Dissatisfaction was particularly high in blue states, but even in red states, a majority of voters were at least “dissatisfied.” The economy was key to Trump’s White House comeback two years ago. But the poll found that three-quarters of voters said the economy is “not so good” or “poor.” About 8 in 10 said inflation has caused a “severe” or “moderate” financial hardship for their households. Government corruption was also a big issue with voters. Roughly half cited it and the cost of living as “crucial” to their vote for Congress — higher than immigration enforcement policies, the war in Iran and artificial intelligence data centers. About 6 in 10 voters said Trump prioritizes his own personal interests more than the country’s interests. Despite their relative advantage on issues, the Democratic Party was not much more popular with voters than the Republicans. Just under half of voters said they have a “somewhat” or “strongly” favorable view of the Democratic Party, while about 4 in 10 viewed Republicans positively. Republicans tried to buck historical midterm precedent with an aggressive redistricting effort aimed at creating a more favorable congressional map. But in Florida and Texas, where Republicans hoped to pick up as many as nine seats, the plan fell short, with Democrats picking up targeted districts. Beyond Washington, 36 states elected governors. Democrats Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania , JB Pritzker in Illinois, Wes Moore in Maryland, Maura Healey in Massachusetts, and Kathy Hochul in New York all won reelection. In a stunning upset in Texas, Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy lost to Democrat Amy Acton after his campaign faced backlash for an ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother , who lost custody of Acton decades ago after her husband, Acton’s stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton as a child. Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia will be the first Black female governor of any state. In neighboring Florida, Byron Donalds became the nation’s first Black Republican to be elected governor. Jeffries, in line to make history as the nation’s first Black speaker of the House, has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on lowering the cost of living and aggressively overseeing the Trump administration . The especially strong showing for Democrats could boost the party’s large crop of potential presidential candidates . It may also complicate the paths of Vice President JD Vance and other Republicans who may have been looking to turn their loyalty to Trump into momentum.

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cj1dw0ydn595t canonical: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cj1dw0ydn595t captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:36:18.758Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- Sakshi Venkatraman Live page editor, reporting from Washington DC Democrats in the US have achieved a landslide victory in the 2026 midterm elections, taking back Congress from the Republicans for the remainder of Donald Trump's presidency. Voters across the US delivered a rebuke of President Trump's agenda and through Tuesday night the party flipped a string of Republican strongholds, ending decades-long droughts in Kansas and Texas. From January, the Democrats will control the Senate and House of Representatives, which decide nationwide laws. The party will be able use their freshly won power to frustrate Trump's agenda, block his picks for courts and cabinet, and even investigate and impeach White House officials . But there's plenty they'll struggle to do, especially with Trump able to veto legislation . With the next presidential election now only two years away, Vice-President JD Vance sought to distance himself from the president in the immediate aftermath, saying unequivocally that the Iran war was the "reason we lost". Trump, for his part, initially struck a conciliatory tone, accepting the war he started in February had played a part. Later, he addressed reporters in the Oval Office with one of his ubiquitous red hats on the desk - this time with the words "veto" written across it. For top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, who will likely be the next Speaker of the House, the message from the midterms was clear: "America is back".

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/house-election-results-2026/ canonical: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/house-election-results-2026 captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:35:54.397Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: true --- Democrats won control of the House of Representatives by picking up perennial swing districts and seats that were once considered deep red. The party's wins ranged from suburban areas in the northeastern United States to areas of South Texas that were once viewed as increasingly GOP-friendly. So far, 43 districts have shifted to Democrats and two have shifted to Republicans. Winners in dozens of races have yet to be projected. GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna narrowly won her race in Florida's 13th District, CBS News projected. With 99% of the votes counted, Luna was leading by less than one point. Democrat Cait Conley defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, winning a highly competitive seat in New York's Hudson Valley region, CBS News projected. Lawler's loss is another setback for Republicans. CBS News has projected that Democrats will take control of the House in January with a wide majority. Lawler called Conley to concede Tuesday. Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew lost his reelection bid against Democrat Zack Mullock in New Jersey's 2nd District, CBS News projected. Van Drew won his 2024 race by nearly 17 points. He is known for switching from the Democratic Party during President Trump's first impeachment in 2019. House Democrats are on pace to win 256 seats, according to the latest CBS News estimate. It's quite an increase from the 214 seats they hold in the current Congress. The estimate includes several races that CBS News has not yet projected. Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker defeated GOP Rep. Mike Turner in Ohio's 10th District, CBS News projected. Turner has represented the district since 2003 and won reelection in 2024 by more than 18 points. Democrat JoAnna Mendoza defeated two-term GOP Rep. Juan Ciscomani in Arizona's 6th District, CBS News projected. Ciscomani won the district — which stretches from the Tucson-area suburbs down to the southeastern corner of the state along the U.S.-Mexico border — by less than 3 points in 2024. Republican Rep. Jeff Crank lost his reelection bid to Democrat Jessica Killin in Colorado's 5th District, CBS News projected. The district has never been represented by a Democrat. GOP Rep. Richard Hudson, the chair of the GOP's House campaign arm, lost to Democrat Richard Ojeda in North Carolina's 9th District, CBS News projected. Ojeda was previously a state senator in West Virginia, and in the last decade ran unsuccessfully for the House, Senate and president before moving to North Carolina. Republican Brent Taylor won Tennessee's 9th District against Democrat Justin Pearson, CBS News projected. The seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, who is retiring in light of redistricting. Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez won a third term in Washington's 3rd Congressional District, CBS News projected. Gluesenkamp Perez's victory, in a district President Trump has won three times, comes as she's flexed her independence over party loyalty. The congresswoman beat Republican state Sen. John Braun to win reelection in the rural district in the southwestern corner of the state. Braun, the top Republican in the Washington state Senate, was a more mainstream Republican than Gluesenkamp Perez's prior opponent, far-right conservative Joe Kent, who went on to become Mr. Trump's counterterrorism chief before resigning in protest over the Iran war. But Braun, who was endorsed by Mr. Trump, also distanced himself from the president on some issues, including tariffs, the Iran war and affirming that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Democrat Amish Shah beat Republican Jay Feely in Arizona's 1st District, CBS News projected. The seat is currently held by eight-term GOP Rep. David Schweikert, who ran unsuccessfully for governor. Shah's primary win in July was part of a string of high-profile defeats for the national Democratic Party, which backed his opponent, Republican-turned-Democrat Marlene Galán-Woods. Shah, a physician and former state legislator, was the party's nominee in 2024. Feely, an NFL veteran and former analyst for CBS Sports, initially ran in Arizona's 5th District, but President Trump endorsed one of Feely's primary opponents and urged him to run in a different district or for another office. Democrats flipped the 6th District, 13th District and 14th District in North Carolina, CBS News projected. Cyril Jefferson beat GOP Rep. Addison McDowell in the 6th District, and Paul Barringer defeated GOP Rep. Brad Knott in the 13th District. Lakesha Womack also won against GOP Rep. Tim Moore in the 14th District. Democratic Rep. Don Davis won a rematch with Republican Laurie Buckhout in North Carolina's 1st District, CBS News projected. Davis' win comes after several rounds of gerrymandering by state Republicans. Davis held off Buckhout in the 2024 election, winning by less than two points after the GOP-controlled legislature redrew the congressional map in 2023. State Republicans approved another redrawn map last year to their advantage. GOP Rep. Rob Wittman lost to Democrat Shannon Taylor in Virginia's 1st District, CBS News projected. Republicans have held the seat since 1977. Democrat Sam Forstag won Montana's 1st District, beating Republican Aaron Flint, CBS News projected. The seat is currently held by GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke, who is retiring. It will be the first time in more than 30 years that a Democrat will represent Montana in the lower chamber. Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado announced his bid for assistant speaker when Democrats take over the House majority. "With our decisive and overwhelming victory this week, it is more important than ever for the House Democratic Caucus to be unified in the 120th Congress, and to repay the faith that the American people have put in us to lower costs, end corruption, and deliver for working families. To that end, and as we embark on that road together, I write to respectfully request your support for Assistant Speaker," he wrote in a letter to his Democratic colleagues on Thursday. "If elected Assistant Speaker, my goals would be straight-forward — to prioritize direct member services for every member of our diverse and talented caucus, and to assist Speaker Jeffries and our incredible Democratic Leadership team," he said. The leadership hierarchy could be a point of tension as both Neguse and Rep. Ted Lieu of California seek to claim the No. 4 spot. Neguse currently holds the No. 5 spot in the minority as assistant Democratic leader. A source familiar with the matter told CBS News that assistant speaker is the No. 4 spot in the majority. Lieu, who currently holds the No. 4 spot in the minority as Democratic Caucus vice chair, will run for Caucus chair. A source familiar with the matter told CBS News that the leadership hierarchy will be the same as it is now — with Lieu as No. 4 and Neguse as No. 5. Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar is running for House majority whip in the next Congress. In a letter to his Democratic colleagues on Thursday, the California Democrat said, "If given the honor of serving as Democratic Whip, I'll continue to ensure each and every voice in our Caucus is heard as we make decisions as a team." "For the past two years, Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have driven up everyday costs, allowed corruption in our government to run rampant and completely ignored the rule of law. On Tuesday, the American people entrusted us with their votes so we can serve as a check on this presidency while maintaining a laser focus on affordability. To help lead our Caucus at this moment, I humbly ask for your vote for Democratic Whip," the letter said. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark has launched her bid for majority leader in the next Congress. "Today with pride in what we've achieved and confidence in what we will deliver, I ask for your support," Clark wrote in a letter to fellow Democrats obtained by CBS News. The Massachusetts Democrat pledged to make affordability a top priority, give rank-and-file members a "seat at the table" and harness the party's "collective power." If elected by her caucus, Clark would become the first woman to serve as House majority leader. Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana is challenging Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan for the GOP conference chair position for the next Congress. In a letter to the GOP conference on Thursday she wrote, "The road back to a Republican House Majority runs through our message and our ability to communicate it effectively. The American people are asking for something different. Our Conference should be willing to do the same." On Wednesday, McClain released a list of 35 Republicans who are backing her to remain as conference chair. She was elected to the leadership position in 2024. "We can spend the next two years licking our wounds and waiting for the political winds to shift, or we can get off the mat and go on the offensive. I know which path I'm taking," McClain said in a statement. Democrats won control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday by flipping more than two dozen Republican-held seats, picking up perennial swing districts and seats that were once considered deep red. The party's wins ranged from suburban areas in the northeastern United States to areas of South Texas that were once viewed as increasingly GOP-friendly. Read more here on the districts that are changing hands. Democrat Marni von Wilpert defeated Republican Jim Desmond in California's 48th District, which was made significantly more Democratic in last year's redistricting campaign. The Southern California district is currently held by retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa , who drew nationwide attention for his time chairing the House Oversight Committee during the Obama administration. It's the fifth California House district to flip from Republican to Democratic control. Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson has flipped Nevada's 2nd District, which covers the northern part of the state and has long been represented by Republicans. Benitez-Thompson defeated Republican David Flippo, who won his party's nomination after longtime GOP Rep. Mark Amodei chose to retire. The district was heavily targeted by national Democrats. Amodei won reelection by a nearly 19-point margin in 2024. Republicans undertook a historic effort to redraw several states' Congressional districts mid-decade in an attempt to maintain control of the House. That effort was rebuffed on Tuesday night as the GOP was on track to lose all of the districts it tried to gerrymander. There were several reasons that states undertook what had previously been a rare practice of mid-decade redistricting. Republican efforts started when President Trump ordered Texas lawmakers to redraw their map to net up to five seats for the GOP. But despite the all-out effort, Democrats won control of the House on Tuesday, with CBS News estimating Democrats could end up with 251 to 268 House seats. Republican Jace Yarbrough flipped Texas' 32nd District, CBS News projected, in the GOP's only redistricting success in the state. Texas Republicans had hoped to flip as many as five districts. Yarborough beat Democrat Dan Barrios for the open seat, which is currently held by Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson, who ran in another district. Democrat Leticia Gutierrez won Texas' 9th Congressional District, CBS News projected. The seat was expected to flip Republican by election forecasters after it was made redder during mid-decade redistricting. The seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Al Green, who ran in another district and lost the primary. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, who will be the chairman of the House Oversight Committee next Congress, laid out four areas where the panel will focus its investigative efforts. The overarching investigations include the Trump family's business dealings, corporate corruption, actions of the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. "I think folks that need to be concerned first are administration officials that have caused real harm. We're going to investigate the abuses," Garcia said at a news conference in his district on Wednesday. Garcia singled out Stephen Miller, Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem, as well as members of the Trump family. "There's a lot of folks that need to understand that we are going to ask them to testify in front of the U.S. Congress," Garcia said. Garcia acknowledged that the Justice Department under the Trump administration is unlikely to enforce any consequences for those who do not cooperate with the panel's investigations. But he said that in the majority, Democrats will have the power to sue on behalf of the House. "And secondly, we have the power of contempt charges. And contempt charges not only go to the DOJ, there's also a civil contempt process that goes to the courts," he said. Asked about the potential for Democrat-led investigations, White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said: "As the President has said, he's willing to work with anyone to continue delivering victories for hardworking Americans. If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries officially announced his candidacy for House speaker next Congress in a letter to the Democratic caucus on Wednesday. "Congratulations on your election to the 120th Congress. I write to humbly request your support in connection with my candidacy to serve as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives," he wrote. Jeffries laid out his immediate priorities, including reversing cuts to Medicaid and SNAP that were enacted as part of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extending the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that expired last year, ending the Iran war and rolling back the president's tariffs. "House Democrats must do everything in our power to meaningfully lower the high cost of living. In doing so, we will try to find bipartisan common ground whenever and wherever possible," he said. House members from both parties will elect a speaker in early January — an election that is widely expected to favor Jeffries given Democrats' large majority. GOP Rep. Richard Hudson said in a statement Wednesday he called his Democratic opponent Richard Ojeda to concede. CBS News has not yet projected the race result, but rates it as likely Democratic. The development marks another stunning turn of events for Republicans as Hudson chairs the House GOP's campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee. Hudson won reelection by 18.5 points in 2024. "I called to congratulate Richard Ojeda on his victory," Hudson said. "I wish him well and look forward to working with him to ensure a smooth transition for the people of North Carolina's Ninth Congressional District." Democratic socialist Angela Gonzales-Torres ousted Democratic incumbent Rep. Jimmy Gomez in California's 34th District, CBS News projected. California has nonpartisan top-two primaries, allowing two members of the same party to advance to the general election if they are the top vote getters. The House Ethics Committee was investigating sexual misconduct allegations against Gomez, including that he engaged "in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer." Gomez acknowledged that he "made personal mistakes outside my marriage" and that his "actions were consensual in nature." Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi, who represents New York's 3rd District, and Laura Gillen, who represents New York's 4th District, both won reelection, CBS News projected. Both districts were among the top GOP targets this election. Democrat Christina Hines beat Republican Michael Bouchard in Michigan's 10th Congressional District, CBS News projected. The seat is currently represented by GOP Rep. John James, who ran unsuccessfully for Michigan governor. Progressive William Lawrence beat one-term Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, CBS News projected. Barrett, who was first elected in 2024 and flipped the Lansing-area district red, was one of the first House Republicans to break with President Trump to vote on war powers resolutions to end the war with Iran without congressional approval. Still, Barrett campaigned with Mr. Trump this summer and had his endorsement. Lawrence, a climate activist who co-founded the Sunrise Movement and is a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated two moderate candidates who split the vote in the Democratic primary. Democrat Sean McCann defeated GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga in Michigan's 4th District, CBS News projected. GOP Rep. David Valadao lost his reelection bid in California's 22nd District, CBS News projected. Valadao's loss against Democrat Randy Villegas makes him the last of the House Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump over the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol to lose reelection or announce their retirement. Valadao was first elected in 2012, but lost in 2018 when Democrats flipped more than 40 seats and won back control of the House. He won the seat back from Democrats in 2020, and went on to become one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump. Only two remain in Congress — Valadao and Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, who is retiring. President Trump said he will "stay out" of the House GOP leadership race. He called House Speaker Mike Johnson "fantastic" and said he did not ask him to step aside. House Democrats have scheduled their leadership elections for Nov. 18 and Nov. 19, according to a source familiar with the plans. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced he also intends to run for minority leader, telling GOP colleagues in a five-page letter that the election outcome "was far worse than any of us expected." "This is no doubt a challenging time for our conference, but overcoming adversity is nothing new to me. We will need to be honest with ourselves about what happened, but it is more important now than ever for us to emerge from this stronger and united because the stakes couldn't be higher," the Louisiana Republican said. "Next Congress will be difficult: we will no longer control the committee agenda or the House Floor, but we are not powerless," he said. "By staying united and acting as a team, we can disrupt their agenda and secure wins along the way. We have big tasks ahead, and tested leadership is needed now more than ever." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said no one in the Democratic Caucus has raised impeaching President Trump with him. "I haven't had a single member of the House Democratic Caucus talk to me about impeachment," Jeffries said Wednesday. "We've been relentlessly focused on affordability and on accountability." Though Mr. Trump has warned that he's expecting Democrats to impeach him, few are eager to go through the process again. "I think our responsibility is to focus on issues and legislation that could make a material difference in working people's lives right now," Rep.-elect Melat Kiros, a Colorado Democrat, told CBS News in a recent interview. "I'm not convinced that there is a path forward for impeaching the president that would lead to removal. And if we don't have a hope for removal, I think our time would be better spent focusing on legislation that we could actually pass that could support working families in this moment." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expects Democrats to win at least 255 seats, once the outcomes of all the remaining races are determined. "Mike Johnson was correct. The polls were wrong. It wasn't simply a blue wave. It was an American tsunami," the New York Democrat said Wednesday at a news conference in Washington, D.C. "We will win at least 255 seats, if not more." "It's a historic majority in the 21st century," he said. Rep. Suzane DelBene of Washington, who is the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said, "Our victory is not just impressive because of how many seats we gained — although we did gain a lot — what was incredible about last night was how far we reached into deep-red territory." The largest majority held by either party was in the 111th Congress in 2009, when Democrats held 257 seats. Outgoing Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger, of Texas, is challenging House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota for the minority whip position in the next Congress. In a letter to GOP colleagues, Pfluger wrote that Republicans "need fresh ideas and a leadership team committed to rebuilding a culture with a clear game plan to win in 2028." "There is a lot to be proud of in the 119th Congress. But we also owe it to ourselves to fully understand what went right, and what went wrong," he wrote. "I'm running for Republican Whip because I believe that I am capable and can be trusted to implement the changes this team needs." House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan told GOP colleagues that he wants the job of minority leader. "This is a staggering day for our Conference," Jordan wrote in a two-page letter that was dated Wednesday, which was obtained by CBS News. "For too long, we have operated without a clear plan to survive the hour or the day in front of us. That will not cut it against an emboldened and energetic Democrat majority." Jordan argued he was "battle-tested on the oversight front" as Democrats prepare an investigative blitz into the Trump administration. "I know the Democrats' playbook," he wrote. "I know what it will take to lead our Conference in the minority, to stay unified, and to coordinate and calibrate our response to the Democrats' tactics." Economic issues helped propel President Trump to victory in 2024, and those same issues dragged down his party in 2026. Fueled in part by economic frustration, parts of the Democratic coalition that Mr. Trump made inroads with in 2024 swung back toward Democrats this year. Persistent negative views of the economy turned against the party in power. Those who said the economy was bad voted for Democrats for the House, according to CBS News exit polls. This was the second straight election most voters told us inflation was a hardship for them, and more said their finances are worse now compared to two years ago — these voters backed Democrats over the Republicans for the House. House Speaker Mike Johnson told staffers that he will not run for minority leader in the new Congress, according to a source familiar with the matter, stepping aside after the GOP's extensive losses in the midterm elections . Johnson made the announcement on a call Wednesday morning, the source said. Democrats held three seats that were at one point considered competitive or top Republican targets, CBS News projected. Rep. Dina Titus won in the 1st District. Rep. Susie Lee won in the 3rd District. And Rep. Steven Horsford won in the 4th District. More than 100 Democratic women were elected to the House, according to the Democratic Women's Caucus. The Democratic Women's Caucus said it marks the first time that the group will surpass 100 members in the House. There are currently 97 Democratic women in the lower chamber, according to the House Clerk . "The millions of women who showed up at the polls voted for a better future for all women and girls. Their rights to healthcare, childcare, and even their right to vote was on the line. Women have borne the brunt of the Trump administration's recklessness and Republicans' extremist agenda, and on Tuesday they made it clear they have had enough," Democratic Women's Caucus chair Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico said in a statement. Melat Kiros, who defeated Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado's primary in July, was born in 1997, the same year DeGette began her decadeslong congressional career. On Tuesday night, the 29-year-old democratic socialist made history as the first Generation Z woman to be elected to Congress. Kiros joins Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida, who in 2022 was the first member of the generation born between 1997 and 2012 to win a congressional seat. In an interview with CBS News, Kiros declined to say what advice she's received from Frost about entering Congress as the youngest member, but said he's "been really wonderful in helping me get a sense of what it's like walking into this institution as young as we are." She knows she has a lot to learn: "What's intimidating is the sheer amount of knowledge that is necessary to be able to be effective in Congress, and that's going to take time to grow and build." Democrats won control of the House, but about 75 races have yet to be determined. We're awaiting results in a number of competitive races, including some that are unexpectedly close: Longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur won a rematch against Republican Derek Merrin in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, CBS News projected. Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in Congress, has held the seat since 1983. Rep. Kevin Kiley, a Republican-turned-independent who still caucuses with the GOP, lost to Democrat Richard Pan in California's 6th District, CBS News projected. Kiley currently represents the 3rd District, but ran in the 6th after redistricting shuffled the boundaries. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, released a two-word statement after Democrats were projected to win the House majority. Garcia plans to investigate the Trump family's business dealings, the administration's immigration enforcement and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, among other things. Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet won reelection in Michigan's 8th District, CBS News projected. She beat Republican Thomas Smith, who defeated a Trump-backed challenger during the GOP primary despite suspending his campaign. The district voted for President Trump in 2024. GOP Rep. Mike Lawler said he called his Democratic challenger Cait Conley to concede the race Tuesday night. CBS News has not yet projected a winner and rates the race a toss-up. Vote-counting has been delayed due to issues in Westchester County. "When all of the votes are counted tomorrow in Westchester it's going to be pretty clear we're going to be short," Lawler told his disappointed supporters. "I have never been afforded in any of my elections a concession on election night and I fundamentally believe it's the right thing to do. And so I congratulate Cait on her win and wish her well as our next member of Congress." Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz lost to Democrat J.D. Ford in Indiana's 5th District, CBS News projected. The Cook Political Report rated the race as lean Republican, while Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it as likely Republican. Democrat Mike McGuire defeated GOP Rep. James Gallagher in California's 1st District, CBS News projected. Gallagher, a former state representative, won the seat in June, filling a vacancy left by the death of Republican Doug LaMalfa. But his stint in Congress will be short thanks to redistricting. He won the special election under the old boundaries that favored Republicans. Democrat Katy Padilla Stout defeated Republican Brandon Herrera in Texas' 23rd District, CBS News projected. The seat was held by GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales, who resigned in April as he faced an expulsion vote stemming from his affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Under pressure from House GOP leaders, Gonzales ended his campaign for reelection in March after he admitted to the affair and was forced into a primary runoff with far-right gun activist Herrera. The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball both rated the race as lean Republican before Election Day. Democrat Johnny Garcia won Texas' 35th District, defeating Republican Carlos De La Cruz, CBS News projected. The boundaries were redrawn as part of state Republican's mid-decade redistricting to make several seats more favorable to the GOP. Embattled GOP Rep. Max Miller lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Brian Poindexter in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, CBS News projected. Miller defied calls over the summer to end his campaign before a deadline that would have allowed Republicans to replace him on the November ballot amid allegations of domestic abuse toward his ex-wife and young daughter. The allegations, which Miller denied, put the Northeastern Ohio district long held by Republicans in play. Third time's the charm for Democrat Rebecca Cooke, who ousted two-term Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, CBS News projected. The highly competitive seat, which covers parts of the western and central areas of the state, was a top target for Democrats in their quest to reclaim the House majority . Republican Rep. Brian Steil lost his race to ER nurse Mitchell Berman in Wisconsin's 1st District, CBS News projected. Steil was first elected in 2018, replacing former House Speaker Paul Ryan, who represented the southeastern Wisconsin district from 1999 to 2019. A Democrat has not represented the district in more than 30 years. Democrat Rep. Gabe Vasquez defeated Republican Greg Cunnningham in New Mexico's competitive 2nd District, CBS News projected. Vasquez was first elected in 2022, flipping the seat. Democrat Denise Powell flipped Nebraska's competitive 2nd Congressional District, which is currently represented by retiring Republican Rep. Don Bacon, CBS News projected. Powell, a political organizer, defeated Republican Brinker Harding, a member of the Omaha City Council. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick lost his race in Pennsylvania's 1st District, CBS News projected, becoming the latest House Republican from the state to lose reelection. He lost to Bob Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner. Fitzpatrick, a moderate, was one of the few House Republicans to vote to limit President Trump's ability to further strike Iran. He won reelection in 2024 by nearly 13 points. Republican incumbents also lost in the state's 7th District, 8th District and 10th District. Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was pardoned by President Trump in December 2025, won reelection in Texas' redrawn 28th District, CBS News projected. Democrat Bobby Pulido defeated incumbent Rep. Monica De La Cruz, CBS News projected, flipping the crucial South Texas district that Democrats had heavily targeted after the region swung toward Republicans in 2024. Democrat Ben McAdams won in Utah's newly drawn 1st District, which encompasses Salt Lake City and its suburbs, CBS News projected. GOP Rep. Blake Moore, who holds the seat under the old boundaries, is running for reelection in Utah's solidly red 2nd District. After a lengthy legal battle, court-ordered redistricting produced one Democratic-leaning district in the state, giving the party its best opportunity in nearly a decade to flip one of the state's four House seats. McAdams was first elected in 2018, serving one term in the House after beating a Republican incumbent. Democrat Lindsay James defeated Republican Joe Mitchell in Iowa's 2nd District, CBS News projected. The seat is currently held by GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, who lost her bid for Senate Tuesday night. GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks lost reelection to Democrat Christina Bohannan in Iowa's 1st District in their third consecutive rematch, CBS News projected. The race was expected to be close in the months leading up to the election. As November neared, election forecasters shifted the race in favor of Democrats. Another Republican incumbent has lost reelection. CBS News projected that GOP Rep. Mike Carey lost to Democrat Don Leonard in Ohio's 15th District. Both the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated the race as lean Republican heading into Tuesday. GOP Rep. Zach Nunn lost reelection to Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa's 3rd District, CBS News projected. Nunn has represented the Des Moines-area district since 2023. He won reelection in 2024 by less than 4 points. Democrat Fred Wellman flipped Missouri's 2nd District, defeating GOP Rep. Ann Wagner, CBS News projected. Heading into Tuesday, the Cook Political Report rated the race as likely Republican and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it as lean Republican. Former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria defeated GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia's 2nd District, CBS News projected. Luria, who held the seat for two terms, lost to Kiggans in 2022 after redistricting made the area more favorable to Republicans. The military-heavy district — which includes Virginia's Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach — has flipped parties four times since 2008. In 2021, it voted for Republican Glenn Youngkin for governor, then supported Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger four years later. The district voted for former President Joe Biden in 2020 but for President Trump in 2024. Luria, a 20-year Navy veteran, was first elected to Congress in 2018. She was part of a group of Democratic women with national security backgrounds who helped their party win back control of the House after eight years of a Republican majority. Polls closed in Hawaii at 12 a.m. Eastern. Alaska followed at 1 a.m. Eastern. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday night he was "disappointed" about the election results. "It looks like history will be kept tonight," the Louisiana Republican said, referring to the president's party typically losing House seats in the midterms. "If they make the next two years about retribution and lawfare and partisan games, every American will suffer by that," Johnson said in remarks from Shreveport, Louisiana. "Republicans will not be deterred by the outcome of one election. In fact, you know what we do? We double down," he said. Johnson called it the "honor of his life" to serve as House speaker, which he said was a position he did not ever aspire to or expect to have. A triumphant Hakeem Jeffries declared, "America is back" in remarks shortly before 11:30 p.m., in Washington, D.C. "Today begins the great American comeback," said the House minority leader, who is now poised to become the first Black House speaker. Jeffries vowed that House Democrats are committed to making life better for Americans. "This is a change election, and we understand as House Democrats that we need to deliver dramatic change," he said. "We understand that this election, a dramatic change election, means that the American people are crying out for transformational change. We hear you, we see you, we feel you, and House Democrats are committed to making life better for you." Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures won reelection against Republican Rhett Marques in Alabama's competitive 2nd District, CBS News projects. Republicans sought to defeat Figures, who won the seat in 2024 after the Supreme Court affirmed that the state's GOP-drawn congressional map discriminated against Black voters. This year, however, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama to use a map more favorable to Republicans, which eliminated one of Alabama's two majority-Black seats. Under the new boundaries, the 2nd District no longer included Mobile, making it more difficult for Figures to win reelection. Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman won reelection in Ohio's 1st District, CBS News projected. Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas successfully defended his seat in the redistricted 34th District, CBS News projected. State Republicans redrew Gonzalez' district in their favor in 2025 during a mid-decade redistricting push. As of 11 p.m. Eastern, polls have closed in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. We're watching several races in those states: Democrats flipped two more seats — in Pennsylvania's 8th District and 10th District — CBS News projected. GOP Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. lost to Democrat Paige Cognetti in the 8th District. Democrat Janelle Stelson beat GOP Rep. Scott Perry in the 10th District rematch. GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie lost his reelection bid against Democrat Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania's 7th District, CBS News projected. Mackenzie flipped the district in 2024, beating the Democratic incumbent by one point. Democrats have won enough seats to take control of the House of Representatives, CBS News projects, effectively halting President Trump's legislative agenda for his last two years in office. Mr. Trump was on track for the lowest approval rating for a president in a midterm election , early exit polls showed at 38%. About 60% of voters said the president was a factor in their vote for the House. Economic discontent over the cost of living helped Democrats flip control of the House after four years of a razor-thin Republican majority that ceded large parts of its legislative authority to the Trump administration. The total extent of Democrat's majority is unclear as votes in several competitive races continue to be counted. Democratic Rep. Josh Riley won reelection in New York's 19th District, defeating Republican Peter Oberacker, CBS News projected. Democrat Zach Dembo won Kentucky's 6th District race against Republican Ralph Alvarado, CBS News projects. The seat is currently held by GOP Rep. Andy Barr, who won his Senate race. The race was not expected to be competitive, but election forecasters moved the race toward Democrats in recent weeks. GOP Rep. Gabe Evans lost his reelection bid against Democrat Manny Rutinel in Colorado's 8th District, CBS News projected. The seat was a top target for Democrats. Evans had flipped the district red in 2024. Polls are now closed in Montana, Nevada and Utah. The most competitive races in those states are: Democrat Stefany Shaheen won her race in New Hampshire's 1st District, CBS News projected. Shaheen, a former Portsmouth city councilor, is the daughter of retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. The seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who won his race for Senate. Democrats have held the Southeastern New Hampshire seat since 2017, but it was highly competitive in the decade before, switching parties five times since the 2006 election. The seat was a top target for Republicans. Democrat Rebecca Bennett ousted GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, CBS News projected. The two-term congressman missed months of votes earlier this year as he was secretly being treated for depression . Kean did not disclose the diagnosis or his hospitalization until he returned to Washington in late June — nearly four months after his absence became apparent. CBS News rates GOP Rep. Richard Hudson's race in North Carolina's 9th District as likely Democrat. Going into the midterms, the seat was rated by Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball as likely Republican. Hudson chairs the House GOP's campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee. He's facing Democratic candidate Richard Ojeda. As expected, several democratic socialists won their races in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, CBS News projected. Claire Valdez won in New York's 7th District and will replace Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who is also retiring. Darializa Avila Chevalier won in New York's 13th District. She beat Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in a huge primary upset this summer. Chris Rabb won in Pennsylvania's 3rd District, and will replace retiring Democratic Rep. Dwight Evans. Adam Hamawy won in New Jersey's 12th District and will replace retiring Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. Melat Kiros won in Colorado's 1st District, making history as the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress. Democrat Jamie Ager flipped control of North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, CBS News projected, marking the first time a Democrat has won the seat since

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/democrats-retake-house-blue-wave-062715695.html canonical: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/democrats-retake-house-blue-wave-062715695.html captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:35:53.959Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- The United States woke up to a radically altered political landscape on Wednesday after Donald Trump was dealt a devastating blow in the midterm elections, in which his Republican party was stripped of control of the Senate and the House as his handpicked "Maga" candidates were swept away by a blue tsunami. With counting still going on in a couple of Senate races, and with 68 House seats as yet undeclared, Democrats were assured of a congressional majority far more comfortable than most pundits had predicted. They had flipped at least seven Senate seats, in such deep-red states as Texas and Kansas, which hadn't sent a Democrat to the upper chamber for 94 years, along with more than two dozen House districts. Having made his final pre-election appeal to voters with a bizarre speech focusing on algae and grass from Washington's Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, Trump resurfaced on Wednesday afternoon to deliver his first remarks since the election from the construction site of his controversial White House ballroom. Related: What can Democrats actually do now they have won Congress? Sidestepping the catastrophic blow to his political standing, and what it means to his party and the country's future, the president focused instead on his self-aggrandizing building projects in the US capital. "I grew up on construction sites," he told the crowd. Within hours of polls closing, the political fallout began to descend on Trump and the Republican leadership. The White House put out an Instagram post saying, "PSA: TRUMP IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT", without adding that his power was now vastly diminished. Vice-President JD Vance, whose old Ohio Senate seat was one of those that fell to the Democrats, began his long and no doubt fraught journey to distance himself from Trump before the 2028 presidential election. He instantly blamed the Republican rout on Trump's war with Iran. "The reason we lost is the war," he said on X . "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest." Pressed by reporters on whether he agreed with Vance's assessment, Trump replied: "I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit, but at the same time, if I had to do it again, I'd have to do it again." Joining the raft of Republican senators and representatives swept away by the blue tide, one of the early casualties of the election was the House speaker, Mike Johnson, who indicated he will not seek re-election as leader of the Republican group when Democrats take over in January. As Vance made clear in his statement, the election channelled the anger of a seething electorate, Republican voters and Democrats alike. In addition to Trump's war, they were furious about the soaring cost of living and inflation, aggravated by the president's tariffs and foreign exploits. The president spent weeks before the election pleading with the American people to pretend he was on the ballot. He may now rue that tactic: the American people took him at his word, and delivered him a bloody nose of historic proportions, flinging his presidency into lame duck status. He appeared last night to have changed his mind, declaring on social media: "I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" As the night progressed, one shock followed another as the rout extended into parts of the US once considered safe Republican strongholds. Top of the list was Texas, the state that has come to epitomise the iron fist of modern Republican rule. In a seismic shift, James Talarico became the first Democrat to be sent by Texas to the US Senate since 1988. A Democratic dream of flipping the state that has been frustrated in countless previous cycles finally came to pass. In a double whammy, out too went Greg Abbott, a titan of Texas Republican politics. He was ousted by Gina Hinojosa , who becomes the first Democratic governor of Texas in 36 years. Her elevation to the state's highest office as its first Latina governor stands in itself as a repudiation of the Trump administration. The brutal mass deportation campaign unleashed by ICE against Hispanics in Texas was one of Trump's most resounding own goals, as it pushed away droves of voters who had backed him only two years ago. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a doctor and progressive insurgent, made history in winning the closely watched Senate race , defeating the Republican Mike Rogers and becoming the US's first Muslim senator. His opponent and detractors, including Trump, led a largely Islamophobic campaign against him, often pointing to his name and faith, including the president alleging he was a "jihadist" and that he would need to walk through a metal detector to get into the Senate. "They want an America that is too small for some of us," El-Sayed said. "We know that America is big enough for all of us." The pattern of stunning Republican defeats was repeated across the country, from the east coast through the plains, and even deep into the American south. It amounted to a withering rebuke of Trump's broken promises, economic follies and war with Iran at a time when many American families are struggling to put food on the table and gas in their tanks. The list of astounding results extended to Kansas, a state that until recent days lay well beyond even the most optimistic Democrats' wildest fantasies. Adam Hamilton, a mega-church pastor, becomes the first Democrat to win a US Senate seat in almost a century. He throws out Roger Marshall, the incumbent, who became a poster boy for Republican callousness when it was revealed he had sued 700 of his own patients for failing to pay him their medical bills when practising as a doctor. Even in deeply conservative Mississippi, the Democratic candidate for Senate, Scott Colom, was slightly ahead of the Republican incumbent, Cindy Hyde-Smith. The race remained too close to call. Among the most jaw-dropping results of the night was the victory of Annie Andrews , a Democratic pediatrician, in the deeply conservative southern state of South Carolina. She defeated Darline Graham, the sister of the late Trump loyalist Lindsey Graham, marking the first time South Carolina has sent any Democrat to the Senate since 1998. Trump had personally persuaded Graham to stand for election in her brother's seat. She had her misgivings. In Maine there was another shock when just before 1am Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson , letting go of a Senate seat she had held for almost 30 years. Trump spent the night watching his party's disaster unfold on a White House TV set. He was reportedly fuming. The emphatic outcome of the election could have enormous implications for Trump's final two years in office, and with it the immediate future of the US and the world. Hakeem Jeffries is now poised to become the first Black speaker of the House in US history. "America is back," he said on Tuesday night. "Today begins the great American comeback. The American people have spoken all across the land, from sea to shining sea, and made clear they have had enough of the extremism and corruption." The incoming Democratic majority is promising to move swiftly from January on a 100-day plan prioritising affordability. They are also focusing on reversing cuts to healthcare costs and Medicaid as they seek to show voters that they have their personal livelihoods at the center of their agenda. With such a large cushion in both chambers, the Democrats will also be emboldened to use their newly acquired oversight and subpoena powers aggressively to investigate the most egregious of Trump's excesses. That includes the president's financial enrichment of himself and his family, which Democratic leaders have said amounts to corruption. The top Democrat on the House oversight committee, Robert Garcia of California, had a stern warning for the administration: "Lawyer up." The incoming Democratic majority is also likely to hit the White House with a blizzard of war powers resolutions designed to pressure Trump to end his war with Iran. Democratic leaders are preparing to challenge his tariffs regime, work to rein in ICE and its mass deportation efforts, and move to reinstate cuts to Medicaid, healthcare subsidies and other welfare benefits. Pete Hegseth, the combative defense secretary, is also in Democratic crosshairs. With the Senate also under their control, Democrats will have the power to block many of Trump's judicial and cabinet appointments. The Democratic Senate leader, Chuck Schumer, said Americans wanted Washington to bring down the cost of living, and clean up corruption. Alarm bells for the Republicans began ringing early in the night, with Jon Ossoff winning re-election to his Georgia Senate seat shortly before 8pm on the east coast. That the Democrat swatted away his Trump-endorsed challenger Mike Collins so comfortably, in a state the president won two years ago, set the compass needle for what was to come. Less than half an hour later, still chillingly early in the evening for Trump and his party, Democrats picked up the first of four Senate seats they needed to retake the upper chamber. In North Carolina, the former governor Roy Cooper defeated another Trump chosen one, the former national Republican party chair, Michael Whatley. Such a convincing win is likely further to elevate Ossoff in the hearts of Democrats as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. He proved himself during the campaign to be a fearsome debater, fundraising juggernaut and savvy social media operator – three skills that Democrats will be desperately seeking in two years' time as they look to prevent a Trump successor in the White House.

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/article/democrats-2026-midterm-rout-was-big--really-big-here-are-the-numbers-that-prove-it-225923613.html canonical: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/article/democrats-2026-midterm-rout-was-big--really-big-here-are-the-numbers-that-prove-it-225923613.html captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:35:53.306Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- Midterms tend to be backlash elections, and the president's party almost always loses seats when voters return to the polls to judge his performance in office. On Tuesday, Democrats comprehensively routed their Republican rivals , regaining control of the U.S. House, U.S. Senate and statehouses across the country. Along the way, they shattered a series of decades-long Republican winning streaks and notched several historic firsts . So just how big was this year's blue wave (or " blue tsunami ")? The full scale and scope of the Democratic Party's seismic victory is still coming into focus as officials tally every last vote. But here are some key numbers to help you put it in perspective: 26: the average number of House seats the president's party has lost in midterm elections since World War II (pre-2026) 40+: the projected number of House seats that will flip to Democrats in 2026, once all the votes are counted About 260: the projected size of the new Democratic House majority — the largest since the early 1990s 6.8 percentage points: the Republican popular vote margin in their 1994 and 2010 House midterm victories 14 points: the projected Democratic popular vote margin in their 2026 House midterm victory 1974: the last time either party won their House popular vote by that much in a midterm election More than 100: the number of Democratic women who will serve simultaneously in the House — a historic first Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks at an election night event on Nov. 4, 2026, in Detroit, as his wife Sarah Jukaku watches. 4: the average number of Senate seats the president's party has lost in midterm elections since World War II (pre-2026) 9: the number of Republican Senate seats that have either flipped to Democrats in 2026 (Iowa, Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas) or could flip once all the votes are counted (Alaska, Mississippi) 55-56: the projected size of the new Democratic Senate majority — the largest since the early 2010s 2014: the last time a party — the Republicans — flipped 9 Senate seats in a midterm election 1958: the last time a party flipped more than 9 Senate seats in a midterm election 1982: the last time Mississippi elected a Democratic senator 12 points: Trump's average margin of victory in 2024 in the nine states where Democrats flipped or could still flip a Republican Senate seat this year 1986: The last midterm in which more than two Senate seats flipped in states where the president won by double-digit margins two years earlier At least 17: the number of senators from both parties who will be replaced in the chamber after the 2026 midterms — the largest turnover since 1980 70: the average age of this year's departing senators At least 15: the number of senators from both parties who will be under 50 when they're sworn into office in January 2027 — up from eight previously Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, right, embraces her daughter, Lincoln, at an election night event on Nov. 3, 2026, in Atlanta. 7: the number of Republican governorships that have either flipped to Democrats in 2026 (Iowa, Ohio, Georgia, Nevada, Texas) or could flip once all the votes are counted (Alaska, Kansas) As many as 31: the number of governorships that Democrats could control once all the votes are counted 2010: The last time Democrats controlled a majority of governorships About 75%: the percentage of Americans who will live in states with Democratic governors after the 2026 midterms At least 17: the number of women who will serve as governors, a record, up from 14 63%: the percentage of exit poll respondents who said they disapprove of how Trump is handling his job as president 54%: the percentage of exit poll respondents who said they "strongly" disapprove of how Trump is handling his job as president 37%: the percentage of exit poll respondents who said they approve of how Trump is handling his job as president — the lowest midterm approval of any president since at least 2006 91%: the percentage of exit poll respondents who said government corruption was a crucial or major factor in their vote for Congress 62%: the percentage of exit poll respondents who said Trump prioritizes his own personal interests over the country's interests 89%: the percentage of exit poll respondents who said the cost of living was a crucial or major factor in their vote for Congress 66%: the percentage of exit poll respondents who said Trump's policies have worsened economic conditions in the U.S. +15 percentage points: An early estimate of how much better Democrats performed nationwide in 2026 vs. 2024 (via the New York Times ) +20 points: An early estimate of how much better Democrats performed in the South in 2026 vs. 2024 +29 points: An early estimate of how much better Democrats performed with Latino voters in 2026 +33 points: An early estimate of much better Democrats performed with young voters (ages 18-29) in 2026 vs. 2024 Supporters of Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico attend at an election night event in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 3, 2026. 2.6 percentage points: Democrat James Talarico's final lead in the polls, on average About 12 points: Talarico's actual margin of victory over Republican Ken Paxton in the 2026 midterm election 1988: The last time Texas elected a Democratic senator 5.26 million: The number of votes Joe Biden received in Texas in the 2020 presidential election 5.45 million: The number of votes Talarico has received in Texas in the 2026 midterm election — the most ever for a Democrat 64%: The estimated percentage of Texas independent voters that Talarico won in the 2026 midterm election 70%: The estimated percentage of Texas Latino voters that Talarico won in the 2026 midterm election 74%: The estimated percentage of young voters (ages 18-29) that Talarico won in the 2026 midterm election

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://justthenews.com/government/congress/jeffries-indicates-impeaching-trump-not-priority-democrats-after-midterm-blue?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators canonical: https://justthenews.com/government/congress/jeffries-indicates-impeaching-trump-not-priority-democrats-after-midterm-blue captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:35:52.818Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- Democrats won the majority in both chambers of Congress during Tuesday night's midterms and Jeffries is on track to become House speaker next year. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries insisted Wednesday that Democratic lawmakers are not actively lobbying him to impeach President Donald Trump when the party takes control of the chamber in January. Democrats won the majority in both chambers of Congress during Tuesday night's midterms and Jeffries is on track to become House speaker next year. Jeffries indicated that Democrats plan to listen to American concerns when it comes to issues important to them like affordability and accountability. “I haven’t had a single member of the House Democratic Caucus talk to me about impeachment," Jeffries said in a news conference. "We’ve been relentlessly focused on affordability and on accountability because the House is a separate and co-equal branch of government. “We recognize that we don’t work for Donald Trump," he continued. "We don’t work for J.D. Vance. We don’t work for the Supreme Court. We work for the American people." The Democratic leader said he has not heard from the president so far but that he will be speaking to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about a way for both chambers to move forward next week. The denial of impeachment comes after former Vice President Kamala Harris warned Democrats last week not to focus on impeaching Trump, who was impeached twice in his first term but acquitted by the Senate. Harris urged lawmakers to focus on investigations and accountability along with ending the war in Iran. Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/13/leader-jeffries-on-abc-donald-trump-has-broken-every-promise-that-hes-presented/ canonical: https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/13/leader-jeffries-on-abc-donald-trump-has-broken-every-promise-that-hes-presented captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:35:52.246Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, where he made clear that while Republicans have abandoned the American people, House Democrats will continue to fight hard for an affordable America. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re joined now by the House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries. Mr. Leader, thank you for coming in this morning. We want to talk about the convention in a second, but let’s start with AI and these remarkable warnings we’re getting this week. I know you met with President Obama and talked about this issue earlier this week. What will Democrats—what do Democrats think needs to be done right now? LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we certainly need to begin to act urgently to address the challenges that exist and unfortunately Republicans have abandoned their responsibility. So, under Speaker Mike Johnson, he killed a bipartisan task force this Congress that was prepared to do the serious work necessary to try to erect the guardrails to protect the health, the safety, the well-being of the American people. So what we did as Democrats was to begin last December a Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Innovation Economy so we could evaluate the steps that needed to be done and then present an aggressive framework, which we’re in the process of doing so that Congress can act on behalf of the American people. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But do we even have time for that? You’ve got some of your colleagues, like Representative Ro Khanna and other Democrats, saying Congress should come back in right now, take urgent action right now. Don’t go back for the midterm elections until they’ve done something. LEADER JEFFRIES: I agree with my colleagues that we actually need to act urgently, and unfortunately, House Republicans have effectively canceled the last two weeks of the legislative session scheduled for this month , which is something that they’ve repeatedly done. We should take decisive action now so that we can slow down, as the CEOs have recently acknowledged, slow down the pace of development in order to protect the American people and ensure that AI is proceeding safely. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: What is decisive action? Senator Bernie Sanders, as I said, has called for a ban on artificial superintelligence. Your colleague, Ted Lieu of California, says there needs to be a kill switch inside the companies. Are you for those? LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’ll have that conversation this week upon our return. We’re going to meet as a Caucus on Tuesday morning, and a high priority will be action on artificial intelligence. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay, let’s turn to the midterm convention—the President’s $5,000 promise. If Democrats take control next year, is that dead on arrival? LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, it wasn’t a serious proposal that was presented by Donald Trump. He’s broken every promise that he’s presented. Donald Trump promised to actually lower costs on day one. Costs haven’t gone down. They’ve gone up. Donald Trump promised not to start endless wars in the Middle East, but to stop them and then turned around and did the exact opposite in Iran. Donald Trump even promised to love and cherish Medicaid and then enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. As Democrats, we’re going to focus on aggressively driving down the high cost of living and fighting for an affordable America because the cost of living in this country is way too high. Republicans have made the situation worse. Democrats are going to act aggressively. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Democrats aren’t much more popular than Republicans right now. And the President and his allies at the convention this week tried to argue that you’re the party of communism. Let’s take a look. RECORDING OF DONALD TRUMP: Remember during the last State of the Union, I said, our country will never be a socialist country. I was right. It’s going to be a communist country, if they win. You know what they did? They dropped socialism. They went right for the big one. And all I’m asking in this election is that you stand with me together. We will defeat communism in America once and for all. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Worried that attack might cut? LEADER JEFFRIES: Not at all. One thing that Donald Trump did say at the midterm convention that was interesting is to pretend as if he’s on the ballot. Mr. President, we don’t have to pretend. You are actually on the ballot. Your failed economy is on the ballot. The cost of living crisis is on the ballot. The fact that you’ve gotten us involved in a reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East that has skyrocketed gas prices—that’s on the ballot. Ripping healthcare away from millions of Americans is on the ballot. The Trump Tariffs, which have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year, are on the ballot. Donald Trump is absolutely on the ballot in November, and the American people are going to send a message loudly and clearly on Election Day that even Donald Trump cannot ignore. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: The internet activist Hasan Piker was also front and center at this convention in Dallas this week, particularly his comment that America deserved 9/11. How should Democrats handle him? LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I’ve been very clear in terms of my denunciation of him and the aggressive, in some cases antisemitic remarks that he’s issued, as have other Democratic candidates all across the country. Now what’s interesting is, in terms of who’s going to be on the ballot, George, in November, we’ve got extraordinary candidates. We’ve got combat veterans like Cait Conley and Rebecca Bennett, we’ve got doctors, we’ve got nurses, we have engineers, we have farmers, we have union leaders, we’ve got firefighters, we’ve got police officers, we have a hostage negotiator, we have a Tejano music superstar in the Rio Grande Valley and even a smokejumper in Montana. These are extraordinary candidates. Their names will appear on the ballot. They’ve got incredible patriotic life experiences and their commitment to public service is going to speak for itself. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You’ve taken some heat from progressives in the party, including from many who align with the Democratic Socialists. Are you confident that you’ll actually be Speaker if the Democrats win? LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re focused right now on taking back control of the House of Representatives . That is the only mission that’s important, so we can lower the high cost of living, lower the cost of gas, lower the cost of groceries, lower the cost of housing, certainly fight to make healthcare affordable for every single American and combat the unprecedented corruption that’s been unleashed on the American people and beginning on day one, hold the crooks accountable. We’ve made clear, George, that if someone has been screwing over the American people, shortchanging the American people or stealing from the American people, they’re going to be held accountable under a Democratic majority. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You said hold the crooks accountable. Does that mean that the House is going to be pursuing impeachment proceedings on day one? LEADER JEFFRIES: No, we haven’t ruled anything in and we haven’t ruled anything out in terms of impeachment. As it relates to accountability, what we’re going to do, led by Jamie Raskin and House Committee Democrats on the Judiciary Committee as well as House Democrats on the Oversight Committee, led by Robert Garcia—both of them are doing a tremendous job— we’ve got to follow the facts, apply the law, be guided by the Constitution and then let the chips fall where they may, in the best interest of the American people so that the House, once again, can function like a separate and co-equal branch of government and a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: On that theme, a lot of Democrats had raised questions about the activities—the private business activities of Jared Kushner. Was it a mistake for you to meet with him? LEADER JEFFRIES: No, listen, I’m of the view that if we’re going to be committed to actually solving problems on behalf of the American people, including, by the way, passing the housing affordability bill in this Congress that became law as a result of bipartisan work led by Maxine Waters in the House and Elizabeth Warren in the Senate, there are going to be times that you have to speak with people on the other side of the aisle, even individuals who you strongly disagree with on the overwhelming majority of issues. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And if the number one issue is the cost of living right now, what do Democrats do on day one about that? LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, there’s a variety of different things that we’re going to have to do. We have to end the Trump Tariffs, because we know the Trump Tariffs have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. We’ve got to stop this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed gas prices to the highest levels, for instance, on Labor Day ever seen in the United States of America. We’ve certainly got to fix our broken healthcare system and do the type of things like restoring the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year, in some cases up to a thousand dollars per month in ways that are unaffordable for people who can no longer be able to go see a doctor when they need one. These are some of the things that I think we can begin to do, but it’s going to have to be a bold, aggressive legislative effort that we sustain, not just for the first 100 days, but for the first year and the entirety of the Congress . GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: It’s almost certainly going to have to take some cooperation from President Trump. He went on Fox News this week and said he thinks he can make deals with you. Do you see areas where cooperation is possible? LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I think, look—we’ve said from the very beginning of this Congress, if the other side of the aisle is willing to find the common ground necessary to decisively address the fact that everyday Americans are drowning in this Republican economy , working hard, playing by the rules, can’t thrive and can barely survive, then we’re committed to actually trying to find that common ground , as we just recently did with the housing affordability bill that is now law. GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Leader Jeffries, thanks for your time this morning. LEADER JEFFRIES: Thanks, George. Full interview can be watched here .

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/4792651/jeffries-not-a-single-member-talked-about-impeachment/ canonical: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/4792651/jeffries-not-a-single-member-talked-about-impeachment captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:35:51.252Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said no members of Congress have talked to him about impeaching President Donald Trump after Democra ts ‘ decisive victory Tuesday night. “I haven’t had a single member of the House Democratic Caucus talk to me about impeachment,” Jeffries told reporters Wednesday morning. “We’ve been relentlessly focused on affordability and on accountability because the House is a separate and co-equal branch of government.” Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://abcnews.com/Politics/democrats-house-heres-plan-investigate-legislative-agenda/story?id=137832144 canonical: https://abcnews.com/Politics/democrats-house-heres-plan-investigate-legislative-agenda/story?id=137832144 captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:35:51.779Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- "Lawyer up," the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee said. Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives, according to an ABC News projection , putting Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on track to make history as the first Black Speaker of the House when the new Congress is seated in January. So, what's next? Democrats have signaled that they will pursue both a legislative agenda and investigative track that they say aims to restore a congressional check and balance against the executive branch. Jeffries has said Democrats would harness the political capital of a new majority to reinstate expired Affordable Care Act health care premium subsidies and reverse nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts that were included in the president's signature domestic policy law, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Volunteers applaud as US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries gives a thumbs up at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee midterm election night phone bank and watch party at a hotel in Washington, November 3, 2026. Tom Brenner/Getty Images "Well, Day One plan is going to be to make sure we're going to be focused on healthcare, focused on driving down, right, the high price of groceries and gas and housing," Jeffries told ABC News' Capitol Hill correspondent Jay O'Brien during a sit-down interview in Nebraska ahead of the election. House Democrats have also indicated they will quickly consider legislation to end Trump's global tariffs and restore congressional power over trade policy. As American voters send a signal to lawmakers rejecting the status quo, Democrats also promise to act to end the war in Iran and also plan to focus on addressing the "affordability crisis" they blame on failed Republican policies -- promising to lower the cost of groceries, healthcare and gas. Volunteers applaud as US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries gives a thumbs up at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee midterm election night phone bank and watch party at a hotel in Washington, November 3, 2026. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters "House Democrats will be united around the effort to reverse the Medicaid cuts and extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits right out of the gate as part of our effort to fix a broken health care system that Republicans are actively destroying, and then we'll have to take on the battle of reversing the reckless war of choice that has skyrocketed gas prices on the American people and is deeply unpopular throughout the country, we'll have to battle the administration," Jeffries told reporters last month. Democratic-led House committees are expected to simultaneously launch several investigations into the Trump administration and use their subpoena power if necessary to compel testimony and document production. "I think we've demonstrated in this Congress an ability to both aggressively push back against the administration and their extremism, whenever and wherever possible, while at the same time trying to get things done in the best interest of the American people," Jeffries told reporters earlier this month. Jeffries said a focus of committees' investigations will be corruption allegations. "There is a cost to corruption," Jeffries told reporters. "Pardons are apparently being paid for in exchange for turning a blind eye to corporate offenses, or in some instances, contributions apparently are being made in exchange for governmental actions that are taken that ultimately result in making life more expensive for the American people. These are all things that are going to need to be thoroughly investigated as part of our pledge to hold the crooks accountable, beginning on day one." Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed Democrats' accusations of "pay to play" regarding pardons as a non-issue during a Senate hearing in June. "Look, the power to pardon in our Constitution is given to the President of the United States," Blanche testified. "The Constitution does not require him to provide any explanation for who he chooses to pardon or not pardon, or commute or not commute." ABC News has reached out to the White House to ask if the Trump administration intends to cooperate with Democratic oversight requests from Capitol Hill. In a two-word statement released late Tuesday after the Democrats were projected to take control of the House, Rep. Robert Garcia, the presumptive chairman of the House Oversight Committee, stated: "Lawyer up." Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., speaks during a Congressional spotlight hearing on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo Garcia has previously laid out a number of priorities in interviews. Handling of the Epstein files: As it relates to the Epstein investigation, Garcia has said that he wants to hold public hearings, which would replace the interviews that occurred behind closed doors when Republicans were in control. Garcia has previously said he wants to subpoena Attorney General Todd Blanche over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Epstein files and the pages that were withheld. Sources have told ABC News that the committee is expected to request the testimony of other White House officials as well. Business dealings: Garcia is expected to seek to interview Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner along with other Trump family members about their alleged business dealings. DHS and ICE : The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis and use of force against U.S. citizens. Alleged corporate corruption: Garcia has said he plans to investigate corporate donors to the White House ballroom, no-bid contracts like the Reflecting Pool contractor and companies he has said are “ripping off” the American public. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the presumptive chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has said he plans to investigate everything from the Trump family businesses to what he called the politicization of the DOJ and FBI and anti-trust issues like corporate mergers. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, leaves a caucus meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Politicization of DOJ and the FBI: Raskin intends to probe the attempted prosecutions and investigations of President Trump’s perceived political enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and John Brennan, the former director of the CIA. Raskin will focus on the firings of career prosecutors and the decisions surrounding the administration’s $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization fund.” Pardons for sale (“pardon industrial complex”): Raskin intends to probe pay-to-play allegations surrounding the president’s clemency powers. Immigration/ICE: Joint work with Oversight and Homeland Security Democrats on ICE conduct. Jeffrey Epstein: Ongoing probes into whether Epstein acted as an unregistered agent for foreign governments; Ghislaine Maxwell’s alleged special treatment in prison; and how Epstein allegedly used his university ties. Rep. Adam Smith, the committee's top Democrat since 2010 and presumptive chairman, has pledged more intense oversight of the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership. In May, Smith told Bloomberg Government that he wants "more transparency on what the Pentagon is up to, more transparency on what the war plans are in Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and with the boat strikes." The Iran war and its cost: Smith intends to probe the decision to go to war with Iran, launched Feb. 28 without congressional authorization and the administration’s shifting justification. Casualties and conduct of the war: The committee will likely probe U.S. service member deaths and injuries and civilian casualties. Boat strikes: The committee is also expected to probe the strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean. Hegseth’s management of the Pentagon: The firing of senior military leaders, a concern raised by members of the committee on both sides of the aisle. Smith also intends to probe the administration’s defense budget. The House Homeland Security and Education and Workforce committees are also expected to hold oversight heraings. Jeffries told ABC News' Jay O'Brien ahead of the election: "Well, we haven't ruled anything in, and we haven't ruled anything out because we've made clear that we're focused on addressing the affordability crisis." But it's clear that Democrats are eager to hold the president accountable for some of his actions during his last two years in the White House. Raskin, poised to be Judiciary Chairman, told Punchbowl that impeachment is a tool. "It's a critical tool in the constitutional toolbox, and we will not hesitate to use it if we think that the benefits exceed the costs," he said. "But the one thing everybody's well aware of is that impeachment trials and impeachment motions soak up a lot of energy and oxygen."

ARCHIVED SOURCE url: https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2026/11/04/hakeem-jeffries-is-poised-to-become-the-first-black-speaker-of-the-house canonical: https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2026/11/04/hakeem-jeffries-is-poised-to-become-the-first-black-speaker-of-the-house captured_utc: 2026-11-06T03:35:50.844Z http_status: 200 method: direct extractor: scrut-extract-2 truncated: false --- By Eric McDaniel Published November 4, 2026 at 2:00 AM PST WhatsApp Alex Wong / Getty Images House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during a press conference on election night with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at a hotel in Washington, D.C. Midterms coverage: Live results | What to know | Stories around the country Stay connected: NPR Politics Podcast | NPR Politics newsletter | NPR app After helping to deliver a decisive victory for House Democrats in the midterm elections, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., appears all but certain to become the first Black lawmaker to be elected speaker of the House. Jeffries was elected House minority leader in 2022 and is the first Black politician to lead either party in the House or Senate. As speaker, Jeffries would be second in the presidential line of succession, after the vice president. His elevation to speaker would represent the pinnacle of a nearly 14-year House tenure, a span that has seen Jeffries rise from a rank-and-file member focused on criminal justice policy to a top party lieutenant under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and then minority leader. It's a rise that has meant securing buy-in from a diverse and often fractious House Democratic caucus — a task that may prove only more challenging as the Democratic Party now looks to make good on its promises to voters. "This is a change election, and we understand as House Democrats that we need to deliver dramatic change," Jeffries said on Tuesday night. "Things are broken. We need a Congress that puts the American people first." Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Jeffries has represented parts of the borough in Congress since 2013 and served as a leader in both the influential Congressional Black Caucus and the House Democratic caucus. Before entering politics, Jeffries served as a lawyer in private practice and credits his time helping members of his community through a law school legal clinic as sparking his interest in criminal justice reform. "I think over time it did inform that if I had the opportunity to go into the practice of law, or eventually public service, that I wanted to do something about the broken criminal justice system," Jeffries said in a 2023 interview with NY1. He served for six years in the New York State Assembly, where he worked on regulating warrantless stop-and-frisk searches by the New York City Police Department. As a policymaker in Washington during the first Trump administration, Jeffries led the effort to pass the bipartisan First Step Act, which reduced sentences for some drug crimes. That effort required working closely with President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. He told Time that "to get things done in this town you need a coalition of unusual suspects." "There was a real partnership [with Kushner] that produced real results," Jeffries said. The lawmaker faced blowback from some inside his party this year for meeting privately with Kushner, first reported by The New York Times and later confirmed by Jeffries. He later said he took the meeting at Kushner's request to discuss affordability, adding that Democrats intend to hold the administration accountable. Jeffries was once a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a sponsor of Medicare for All proposals, though he has long drawn skepticism from outside activists from his party's left wing. As speaker, he will have to contend with how to best incorporate, or sideline, a growing flank of Democratic Socialists of America-aligned and far-left members in the legislative process in the new term. "There will never be a moment where I bend the knee to hard-left democratic socialism," Jeffries told The Atlantic in 2021. "Black progressives do tend to tackle issues first and foremost with an understanding that systemic racism has been in the soil of America for over 400 years." Though the party's progressive members are as racially diverse as the rest of the caucus, Jeffries points specifically to his race as shaping his views on the drivers of America's systemic inequities. "Hard-left progressives tend to view the defining problem in America as one that is anchored in class. That is not my experience as a Black man in this country," Jeffries said. Jeffries also served as an impeachment manager during the Senate trial over Trump's pressure campaign on Ukraine, in which Trump withheld military aid while pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to announce investigations into Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Like many elected Democrats, Jeffries has so far refused to commit to pursuing impeachment again in Trump's second term. He told Fox News in April that it was not a top priority for Democrats and in September told ABC that Democrats "haven't ruled anything in and we haven't ruled anything out." Jeffries has maintained that the primary focus for the new Congress is lowering costs for Americans. The House will hold a floor vote for speaker when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3.