Republicans suffer major losses in midterm elections amid cost-of-living concerns and Iran conflict
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Democrats captured control of Congress as voters cited rising prices, the war with Iran and shifting minority support as key factors behind the Republican defeat.
Democrats secured major victories in the U.S. midterm elections, gaining control of Congress. While the president’s party traditionally loses ground in these contests, analysts linked the scale of the Republican setback to several voter concerns.
A poll showed that 79% of respondents said inflation had caused severe or moderate hardship for their families, and more than 60% blamed President Donald Trump for higher prices. One North Carolina voter told the BBC, "Gas prices, grocery prices, everything's going up," and said she switched her vote to the Democratic candidate.
The war with Iran, launched in February, was also cited as a major influence. Fuel prices rose after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, and 63% of surveyed voters believed the United States made the wrong decision to intervene. Seventy-four percent said the conflict was a crucial factor in their congressional vote.
Democratic candidates emphasized a disciplined message on cost of living and health-care access. In Texas and Kansas, candidates such as James Talarico and Adam Hamilton highlighted personal stories that resonated with voters. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews, a former paediatrician, focused on health-care affordability, while former public-health official Abdul El-Sayed ran on a "money out of politics, money in your pocket" slogan. Senator Jon Ossoff, re-elected in Georgia, also centered his campaign on inflation and corruption.
"They did a good job," President Trump said on Fox News regarding the Democratic performance.
Trump’s own approval ratings had slipped among Republican voters, and his emphasis on personal branding was seen as a risk in a climate of economic anxiety. In his final campaign speech in Washington, D.C., he discussed a renovation project for the Reflecting Pool.
Minority voting patterns shifted as well. Hispanic and Black voters moved back toward Democrats, with majority-Hispanic counties in Texas showing a 22-point swing against Republican Senate candidates compared with the 2024 presidential election. In Mississippi, a potential Democratic Senate win would mark the first such victory since 1982.
The combination of economic pressures, foreign-policy discontent and changing demographic support contributed to the Republican losses in this midterm cycle.