Midterm results give Democrats Congress, setting up new fights with President Trump
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U.S. voters gave Democrats control of Congress in the midterms, prompting fresh debate over President Trump’s agenda and the coming battle over trade and tariffs.
Voters in the recent midterm elections handed Democrats a majority in the House and Senate, positioning them to take committee chairmanships in early January. The outcome was presented as a rebuke to President Trump and the Republican Party, which lost several key races.
Analysts said Trump’s endorsements of candidates such as Ken Paxton in Texas and Darline Graham in South Carolina, along with his feud with Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia, may have played a role in Republican setbacks. In North Carolina, Senator Thom Tillis retired after a clash with Trump, opening the seat for former governor Roy Cooper.
Trade policy could become a central issue for the new Congress. Hakeem Jeffries, a leading candidate for Speaker of the House, has indicated he wants to restore congressional authority over tariffs. Former U.S. ambassador James Blanchard said Congress could pass legislation to rescind tariffs on Canada, even if that meant confronting a presidential veto.
Democrats now face internal debates over how to balance moderate and progressive priorities and whether to pursue aggressive reforms or incremental changes. Political scientist Dennis Goldford compared the current climate to the 2016 MAGA movement, suggesting a noticeable shift in public sentiment.
President Trump, who had previously said the midterms would have looked different if he were on the ballot, concentrated his post-election remarks on reshaping the White House’s influence rather than conceding defeat.