Democrats secure control of Congress in midterm elections

WASHINGTON — Democrats secured major victories in the midterm elections on Tuesday, winning control of both the US Senate and the House of Representatives for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.

The congressional sweep reshapes the legislative landscape for the remainder of the presidential term, propelled by a series of high-profile victories and historic milestones across several key states.

In Georgia, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was projected to win the gubernatorial race, becoming the first Black governor and the first woman elected to the state’s highest office. Bottoms defeated Republican candidate Rick Jackson. Jackson had been endorsed by outgoing Governor Brian Kemp and President Trump, who spent $200 million of his own money on the race.

The victory in the Peach State marks a significant shift, as Georgia has not had a Democratic governor in more than 20 years. Donald Trump had won Georgia in the 2024 presidential election, following a narrow victory there by Joe Biden in 2020.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff also secured a second term in Georgia, defeating Republican challenger Mike Collins, a member of the lower House chamber. The outcome is expected to fuel speculation regarding Ossoff’s potential plans for the 2028 presidential election.

In North Carolina, former Democratic governor Roy Cooper won a Senate seat against Republican candidate Michael Whatley. The win marked the Democrats’ first Senate flip of the night and their first Senate victory in the state since 2008.

Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas was elected to the Senate, defeating former Republican Senator John Sununu. Pappas, who had represented New Hampshire in the House since 2019, became the first openly gay man elected to the upper chamber.