Democrats are projected to win control of the House, delivering a major political setback to President Donald Trump and breaking Republicans’ grip on Washington as voters cast a partial verdict on his second-term agenda.

Democrats are expected to win more than 218 seats in the House, according to an MS NOW estimate. They needed a net gain of just three seats to reach the threshold for a majority in the lower chamber. Every House race has yet to be called by The Associated Press, but MS NOW estimates Democrats will end up with at least 235 seats after all races are decided.

The victory gives Democrats a powerful foothold in Congress and threatens to derail Trump’s legislative priorities during the final two years of his presidency, while opening the door to aggressive investigations of his administration and its members.

The outcome marks a dramatic shift in power in Washington, where Republicans have controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House since Trump returned to office in January 2025.

The results set the stage for two years of divided government, with Democrats preparing to challenge Trump’s agenda and Republicans looking to regroup ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

The Democratic victory was fueled by competitive House races, including in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa and Arizona, where candidates sought to capitalize on voter frustration over the cost of living, healthcare and Trump’s policies. The president’s approval ratings have plummeted as voters balk at the rising cost of living, high gas prices and the war with Iran.

Throughout the campaign, Democrats sought to make the election a referendum on Trump’s handling of the economy, his immigration crackdown and the Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made sweeping changes to federal taxes and spending. They also made a case against corruption in Washington, tying the cost of living to self-dealing, perks and alliances with billionaires to lawmakers and administration officials.

Republicans, meanwhile, tried to campaign on Trump’s record or criticized former President Joe Biden for creating economic problems. They emphasized border security, tax cuts and efforts to boost domestic manufacturing, while portraying Democrats as too liberal to govern. But some GOP candidates in competitive districts sought to distance themselves from the president and his more controversial policies.

The battle for the House unfolded against the backdrop of a historically difficult political environment for the president’s party. Midterm elections have frequently resulted in losses for the party controlling the White House, and Democrats entered the campaign hoping to capitalize on that pattern.

For House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the victory puts him on a path to becoming speaker, a position he has sought since succeeding Nancy Pelosi as the chamber’s top Democrat in 2023. His election as speaker would make him the first Black lawmaker to hold the position.

But the shift in power could also usher in a new era of confrontation between Congress and the White House.

With control of House committees, Democrats gain authority to issue subpoenas, hold hearings and investigate the Trump administration’s actions, including its immigration enforcement operations, federal spending decisions and use of executive power.

They could also block major Republican legislation and use government funding negotiations to press their priorities.

While Trump retains broad executive authority, his ability to advance new legislation would face significant obstacles.

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From MS Now.