Democrats win US midterm elections as Trump loses Congress control
US President Donald Trump faces a Democratic-controlled Congress following midterm victories, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struggles for a parliamentary majority.
The Democrats have won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the US midterm elections, according to the Times of India. The November 3 results follow US strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz and come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a deadlock in the Knesset after the October 27 elections.
The Associated Press reported that Democrats flipped at least seven Senate seats in states including Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina. In Texas, James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton, marking the first Democratic Senate win in the state since 1988. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton unseated incumbent Roger Marshall.
Donald Trump said he did not view the results as a personal setback, noting he was not on the ballot. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said the Democrats did a good job but maintained that the outcome was not a referendum on him.
The new Congress, which takes office in January, will have increased powers to investigate the administration and scrutinise the Iran war. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to be elected as the first Black speaker of the House, pending a vote by lawmakers.
JNU professor Rajan Kumar told the Times of India that the dominant Democratic presence in Congress could act as a check on Trump's approach to Iran. Kumar noted the president may face difficulties in obtaining congressional approval for funding a long-term war.
Trump stated he would veto any legislation he considers unacceptable but suggested he might work with Democrats after an initial period of vetoes.
