Democrats win control of the House and the Senate in a midterm sweep

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3, handing President Trump divided government for the rest of his term.

The Associated Press projected that Democrats would win the House at about 1:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 4, the Boston Globe reported. Al Jazeera reported that Democrats had won 53 Senate seats and led in three more, well past the majority they needed after starting the night down 53-47.

It is the first time since Barack Obama's second term that a sitting president has lost both chambers, Al Jazeera noted.

Senate seats Democrats flipped

The Boston Globe and Al Jazeera reported these Democratic pickups:

Margins are from Al Jazeera's count as of early Wednesday, Nov. 4, and may change as counting finishes.

Democrats also held open or contested seats in New Hampshire, where Chris Pappas beat John E. Sununu, and Minnesota, where Peggy Flanagan beat Michele Tafoya, the Globe reported. CBS News and the Globe reported that Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's open seat over Mike Rogers; Al Jazeera noted he would be the first Muslim U.S. senator.

The Globe listed Alaska, Mississippi, Montana and Nebraska as still uncalled.

The House

Democrats flipped more than two dozen House seats, according to the Globe, including districts in Iowa, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Utah. Republican Reps. Tom Kean of New Jersey and Mike Lawler of New York were among those who lost.

The result positions Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to become speaker, and he would be the first Black person to hold the job, the AP reported in a story carried by KJCT. The AP said votes were still being counted in several races, so the size of the new majority is not yet known. It cited voter frustration over affordability, gas prices and the war with Iran.

What changes

Democrats take control of the Senate on Jan. 3, according to Al Jazeera. A Democratic Senate can block Mr. Trump's nominees, including judges, and Democratic committee chairs gain subpoena power for investigations. Mr. Trump has said he will veto Democratic bills, and overriding a veto takes two-thirds of both chambers, so Democrats would need Republican votes.