Democrats take control of both Congress chambers after Tuesday vote

Voters in Tampa and across Florida cast their ballots on Tuesday, shifting power in Washington and altering the immediate legislative calendar. The result leaves the White House in a lame-duck period with diminished ability to pass priority bills before the end of the year. Democrats now hold the majority in both the House and the Senate, a change that was not predicted by most senior party members just weeks ago.

Democratic gains are substantial in both chambers. In the Senate, the party secured at least 54 seats. In the House, Democrats flipped approximately 20 seats, moving them toward a total of 250 or more. This margin ensures Hakeem Jeffries will likely win the speakership without a serious contest. Before the election, most senior Democrats aimed for a majority of only 10 seats.

Republican losses extended into states where the party had held power for decades. Democrats won a Senate seat in Kansas for the first time in nearly 100 years. A Texas Democrat returned to the chamber after an absence of more than 30 years. South Carolina broke a 30-year losing streak, and Iowa elected its first senator in over 10 years. A Mississippi race remained too close to call, with Scott Colom leading Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by fewer than 50 votes.

The election ended the political careers of several long-serving Republicans. Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Missouri Rep. Ann Wagner lost their seats. In North Carolina, NRCC Chair Richard Hudson and House Rules Chair Virginia Foxx faced near-total defeat. Moderate Republicans also fell, including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia. These exits leave the party with fewer centrist voices in Congress.

President Donald Trump’s influence over the final session is now limited. South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman called the result a wake-up call for conservatives. He urged the party to govern on core principles. Trump told Politico on Tuesday night that he thought Speaker Mike Johnson had done a good job. He added that the Republican conference would decide who leads the minority.

The House Republican leadership race will begin immediately. Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan may enter the race for minority leader by a Friday deadline. The conference will vote next week. Trump did not directly state whether he backs Johnson for the role. He left the decision to the party members.

Democrats are preparing to use their new majority to expand oversight. Lawmakers plan to issue subpoenas and set the agenda to investigate the Trump family, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, and Homeland Security immigration tactics. California Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on House Oversight, posted the phrase “LAWYER UP” on social media as the majority solidified.