Democrats secure congressional control following US midterm elections

In the US midterm elections held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the Democratic Party secured majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This shift in power follows significant voter dissatisfaction regarding President Donald Trump’s stewardship of the economy and his decision to initiate a war with Iran. President Trump has acknowledged that the ongoing military campaign, which began with US-Israeli strikes on February 28, significantly contributed to the Republican electoral losses.

The conflict, characterized by Iranian missile and drone retaliation against Gulf targets and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, caused a surge in fuel prices and disrupted global energy supplies. While the US-Israeli strikes damaged Iranian military assets, they failed to achieve regime change or resolve the nuclear program, leaving the region in a state of high alert. Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, framed the US election results as a public rejection of the war, while expressing skepticism regarding any shift in overall American hostility.

Following these results, President Trump faces a weakened political position. He must now navigate a choice between pursuing a negotiated withdrawal from the conflict or risking further escalation, with the newly empowered Democratic Congress now possessing the legislative authority to constrain his military decisions.