Democratic victory in the Senate, Donald Trump promises to accept the results... The first lessons of the 2026 midterms in the United States

Towards a blue tsunami in the United States. The results of the mid-term elections, Wednesday November 4, show a clear lead for the Democrats against the Republican camp across the Atlantic, and a sanction vote against President Donald Trump. The Democrats, in the minority until now in the Senate, have managed to win an absolute majority in the upper house of the American Congress, with at least 52 seats. They also regained the House of Representatives, with at least 220 seats, 25 of which were won in the ballot.

Also read

Victories in conservative strongholds, rising figures elected or re-elected, reaction from Donald Trump... Franceinfo takes stock of the first lessons from this election, crucial for shaping the rest of the last term of the American president.

Republicans lose control of the Senate

In total, 35 Senate seats, out of 100, were at stake in these elections. The Democrats have regained control of the Senate, according to the latest projections from the Associated Press news agency, reaching the threshold of 51 seats which allows them to hold an absolute majority. Several party candidates achieved the feat, for their camp, of stealing a seat from the Republicans in their traditional strongholds. This is the case in Iowa, with Josh Turek, and James Talarico, in Texas, a first in this state since 1988.

In Ohio, Sherrod Brown also managed to regain a seat from Donald Trump's party, the same thing in Kansas with Adam Hamilton, a first since 1932. Rising Democratic star Jon Ossoff was thus re-elected in Georgia, while Annie Andrews achieved the feat of wresting a seat from the Republicans in South Carolina.

Democrats win the House of Representatives

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, the other entity of Congress, were up for grabs during the midterm elections on Tuesday. Since 2025, the conservatives have had a very narrow majority (218 seats compared to 214 for the Democrats). The results, still partial, take the form of a sanction vote for Donald Trump and his administration. Democrats win the majority with at least 220 seats, according to real-time seat counts. The Republicans, in difficulty, lost at least 25 seats.

Donald Trump promises to “accept” the results

Donald Trump reacted very quickly during the night, affirming that he “accepted” the result of the mid-term elections. “I am completely willing to accept these results,” he told the New York Times. "We will work with the Democrats; we look forward to, you know, working with them. We will probably be able to find some common ground," he added. Questioned by the conservative channel Fox News, he said that the Democrats had “done a good job”.

Faced with the scale of the opposition's gains, on the verge of taking control of the entire Congress, the Republican does not seem to want to challenge the verdict of the polls, he who has always refused to recognize his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, and who had launched accusations of fraud even before the midterms. “My name was not on the ballot and, if it had been, we would have won a CRUSHING VICTORY,” the 80-year-old billionaire wrote earlier on his Truth Social platform.

Historically conservative strongholds are tipping over

The mid-term elections took on the appearance of a rout over time for the Republican Party. Democrat Roy Cooper managed to wrest a Senate seat from the Republicans on Tuesday in North Carolina, against Michael Whatley. He won in a state where Donald Trump won by less than four points in the last presidential elections. In this same state, Democratic candidate Jamie Ager won against Republican Jennifer Capps Balkcom, in a district where the Republican vote is traditionally strong.

In South Carolina, Democratic candidate Annie Andrews was elected senator. A surprise victory against elected Republican Darline Graham, who replaced her brother Lindsey, who died in July, in the upper house. In Kentucky, veteran Democrat Zach Dembo also won a seat in the House of Representatives.

Another feat for the Democratic Party: in Texas, candidate Gina Hinojosa is the winner for the post of governor of the state against Republican Greg Abbott, in office since 2014. In Kansas, another Republican stronghold, Democrat Alan Hamilton is elected to the Senate.

Rising figures from the Democratic Party elected or re-elected

The result was particularly expected. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, one of the possible faces of the Democratic campaign for the 2028 presidential election, won against Republican Mike Collins in Georgia. On the gubernatorial side, Democrats Wes Moore, J.B. Pritzker and Josh Shapiro retain their positions in the states of Maryland, Illinois and Pennsylvania. These party figures are regularly tipped as potential candidates for the 2028 presidential election, just like Californian Governor Gavin Newsom.

Many firsts in American history

Through their election, several candidates have made history. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul el-Sayed, from the left of the party, won the senatorial election. The 39-year-old doctor becomes the first Muslim to sit in the Senate in United States history. “Michigan, we did it!” he declared to his supporters from Detroit.

In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas, 46, became the first openly gay man elected to the Senate. “I want to thank the one who is by my side, my wonderful husband. He has always been there for me,” he said during his acceptance speech.