Cruz says midterms were ‘Watergate-level repudiation’ for Republicans
Joining the chorus of Republicans – who have blasted their party’s poor performance in the midterms – is sitting senator Ted Cruz, of Texas, who said the GOP were handed an “ass-kicking” this cycle, losing control of Congress.
“It was not simply a bad 2006 midterm election, it was a Watergate-level repudiation,” he said on an episode of his ‘Verdict’ podcast.
He noted, like vice-president JD Vance, that there wasn’t a turnout issue. “Instead, our voters Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, showed up and voted and rejected our candidates, voting Democrat,” Cruz said, noting that economic anxiety appeared to be top of mind this cycle.
“Food is too high, gas is too high, diesel is too high, insurance is too high, life is too high,” he added. “Too many Republican politicians seem like they didn’t understand or they didn’t care.”
Cruz, who is up for re-election in 2030 is also a contender as a Republican candidate for president.
“We need to listen and respond. We need to champion economic policies that make a real difference in working people’s lives, and we need to deal with the consequences,” Cruz added, noting that he called Democratic senator-elect James Talarico to congratulate him on his victory.
Newt Gingrich: ‘This was a failed performance election’
Newt Gingrich, the former Republican House speaker and fierce ally of Donald Trump, excoriated his party on social media, as the autopsies of the GOP performance in the November midterms continue.
“The American people were angrier over their own pocketbooks than they were worried about socialism or Islam,” Gingrich wrote on social media. “They wanted to send a message and boy did they ever.”
Gingrich added: “This was a failed performance election and that reality overwhelmed virtually everything else.”
It’s a direct rebuke the campaign rhetoric used by the administration on the campaign trail, that pushed racist tropes and unfounded allegations about several candidates, and largely ignored the impact of the Iran war prices.
The blue wave that swept Republicans out of power across the United States didn’t just strike Congress. In Tuesday’s midterm elections, Democrats gained hundreds of seats in state legislatures across the country, under-the-radar victories that may have major implications for life in America.
Though ballots are still being counted, the party’s success appear to be historic – Democrats haven’t won full control of government in Arizona in 60 years, in Pennsylvania since the 1990s, and Wisconsin since their wipeout in 2010. In Michigan and Minnesota, they regained trifectas they lost after the 2024 election, while in Texas, they will control the state house for the first time since 2002.
The victories are so comprehensive that majorities of Americans are set to live in states with a Democratic governor, and in several states where the party has been locked out of power for years, if not decades, Democrats are expected to embark on aggressive legislative sprees that will have implications nationwide.
“This was the most significant night for state legislative power since the seismic Republican wave in 2010,” said Mandara Meyers, the executive director of the States Project, which supported Democratic seeking state legislative office in the midterms.
The result of their efforts, Meyers said, was the inverse of that pivotal election 16 years ago, when Republicans took over a host of states, then redrew congressional and state legislative maps to prolong their power while enacting conservative laws that linger to this day.
Related: Not just Congress: Democrats’ blue wave washes over state legislatures across US
One of the House races we’re watching, that would be evidence of another Democratic flip in the lower chamber, is Colorado’s fourth congressional district.
Democrat Eileen Laubacher is hoping to beat Republican incumbent and Maga firebrand Lauren Boebert.
Libertarian Douglas Mangeris also has about 3% of the vote.
As of now, with more than 95% of ballots counted, Laubacher is leading by more than 2,000 votes. Returns also show that the district has swung by 19 points for Democrats, compared to the 2024 race where Boebert won re-election.
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As we continue watching for the remaining results in two US Senate races (Mississippi and Alaska), and several House contests, it’s worth noting that Donald Trump has no events open to the press today.
The president will be in Washington and spend the day in closed-door meetings. We’ll keep an eye on anything opening up last minute. On Wednesday we had an impromptu appearance from Trump as he showed the media around the site of his new White House ballroom project – with little mention of the Republican drubbing in the midterms that saw his party lose control of both chambers of Congress.
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With many seats still to come in, the Democrats have taken control of the Senate, House and several key governorships. Find live updating results in full here:
Related: US midterm elections 2026: live results from Senate, House and governor races in all 50 states
Reproductive rights were on the ballot on Tuesday night as voters weighed in on several abortion-related measures, delivering a largely successful night for reproductive rights advocates encompassed by a historic blue wave.
In Nevada, voters approved an amendment enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, permanently protecting access to abortion through the second trimester after a second referendum on the measure.
Virginia voters also approved a constitutional amendment establishing a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom”.
This measure also protects access to abortion during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. It permits government regulation in the third trimester while preserving access to abortion when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant woman. The amendment also establishes rights to contraception and fertility care, among other protections.
In Missouri, voters rejected an effort to overturn the constitutional right to reproductive freedom they had approved in 2024. Amendment 3, which would have repealed those protections, restricted abortion, and prohibited gender transition surgeries and certain other procedures for minors, failed by a margin of 55% to 45%.
The proposal, placed on the ballot by the Republican-led legislature, would have banned abortion except in cases of rape and incest during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or later in cases involving fetal anomalies.
Meanwhile, voters in Idaho, one of the nation’s most conservative states, rejected an effort to repeal the state’s abortion ban. The result leaves in place Idaho’s abortion restrictions, which took effect in 2022 following the US supreme court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, ending the nationwide constitutional right to abortion.
Read more:
Related: Reproductive rights protected in several states by midterm election ballot measures
Ghalibaf also had a message for JD Vance this morning.
Responding to the US vice-president’s lengthy post on X, in which he blamed the Republicans’ heavy midterm losses on the war with Iran, the Iranian parliamentary speaker fired back:
Losing gambler energy, can’t walk away from the table. Boss is prepping the next war phase while America teeters on an Israel-First cliff. Skip the TED talk. Why not say this to your boss?”
An image of Iranians burning a banner bearing Donald Trump’s image captures the depth of anti-US sentiment in Tehran, as Iranian officials seize on the midterm election results as a political rebuke to the US president.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the election outcome as a rejection of the US-Israeli war on Iran, writing on X: “Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message.”
Crowds gathered in Tehran’s Enghelab square last night to observe the burning of the poster which also featured US vice-president JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While Trump acknowledged that the Iran war played a part in his party’s electoral defeat, he told reporters: “I would have done it again.”
Analysis: What will tech barons do in newly blue America?
The photo of Silicon Valley centi-billionaires at Donald Trump’s inauguration – Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg, front row and side by side – now looks like a hitlist for a blue Congress hellbent on making life difficult for billionaires.
The picture symbolized at the time the bending of the knee by the richest men in the world to its most powerful, a symbiosis of the ultra-rich. Already unfathomably wealthy, Silicon Valley tycoons believed a Maga-sized public shift to the right would enrich them even more. It did. For several years, while Trump seemed an everlasting kingmaker and AI’s expansion seemed unstoppable, their fortunes ballooned to values beyond comprehension. Elon Musk’s surpassed $1tn.
In the harsh blue light of Tuesday’s midterms, though, going all-in on Maga seems an unwisely unhedged bet. Democrats took decisive control of the US Congress, flipping seats right and left that in previous years seemed like given wins for Republicans. Governors’ mansions across the country likewise lit up blue as Democrats ascended even in the reddest of states, such as Texas.
Voters concerned about corruption expressed their displeasure at oligarchs’ blatant attempts to create a political environment to their liking. Voting against technocrats drove people into the hands of Democrats and away from Republicans. Tech oligarchs themselves, along with anger over the AI boom, datacenters and Flock surveillance cameras, shifted the tides.
“Voters rejected Republicans in part because they were bought and paid for by AI billionaires. Democrats must hold them accountable instead of cashing their checks,” wrote Texas Democratic representative Greg Casar.
Read more:
Related: Tech barons cozied up to Trump. What will they do in newly blue America?
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Zelensky expresses hope US midterm results will bring more support for Ukraine
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has welcomed the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the midterm elections, expressing hope that the shift in Congress could translate into greater US support for his country.
Speaking to German broadcaster ZDF, he said the Democratic party has been clear about its commitment to supporting Ukraine and strengthening ties between Washington and Europe.
I am also grateful to the Republicans, but the Democrats speak very clearly about supporting Ukraine, about providing aid to Ukraine. They speak of renewing the ties between the US and Europe… That is why there is hope that a balance of power will be achieved and that we will receive more support.”
He added:
If Congress now speaks of strong financial support or military aid, just as Europe is doing and demonstrating today, then that will be a positive development that will influence [Vladimir] Putin.”
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Election night brought a series of dramatic developments, unexpected results and closely contested races across the US. We have put together this video capturing the key moments and offering a quick overview of one of the most important nights in US politics:
Democratic challenger leads in Mississippi Senate race by fewer than 1,200 votes
The Senate race in Mississippi has become one of the most closely watched contests in the midterms, with Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Scott Colom separated by a remarkably narrow margin.
With about 96% of the vote counted, Colom has taken a narrow lead of 1,138 votes, according to the Associated Press. The race remains uncalled in the deep red state while the remaining ballots are counted, you can keep up to date with the latest candidate vote totals and percentages in our live tracker below:
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Analysis: Trump-backed Republicans lose dozens of US midterm races, raising questions over his influence
Dozens of Republican candidates directly endorsed by Donald Trump lost their US midterm election races, according to analysis by the Guardian, raising questions over the power of the president’s support.
In past elections, Trump’s endorsements have been coveted. In the final stages of this year’s campaign, he actively urged voters to act as though he were on the ballot.
But just half of the 26 candidates Trump endorsed for the US Senate had won their elections as of Wednesday at 5pm ET, according to a Guardian tally.
Of the 23 candidates for state governor endorsed by Trump, only nine had won their elections. Twelve were defeated, with two races still to be called.
The president’s endorsed House candidates fared better, with roughly 60% winning their races, although many in competitive House districts were defeated.
In total, 46 Trump-backed candidates for the House have lost so far, with Trump’s tumbling approval ratings appearing to challenge the influence of his public support for Republican candidates.
Read more:
Related: Trump-backed Republicans lose dozens of US midterm races, raising questions over his influence
Oil prices have fallen sharply in the aftermath of the overwhelming victory by Democrats in the US midterm elections, reflecting expectations that Donald Trump will now be unable to conduct an aggressive agenda, including continuing the war on Iran, experts said.
Investors are wagering that gridlock in Washington after the stunning sweep by Democrats in the US midterm elections will be good for markets, as hopes rise of a possible end to the crippling eight-month-long war in the Middle East.
Brent crude futures fell to a two-month low below $100 per barrel as the election results left a weakened president facing a choice between a negotiated exit and a riskier escalation.
After the results became clear, Trump said the Iran war has been worth it, despite acknowledging its role in the Republicans’ election losses. “The Iran thing we had to do, and we continue to do it,” he told reporters.
The US-Israeli war with Iran, which started at the end of February, has sent shock waves across the global energy markets, driven up prices and upended the global rates outlook. Many of the major central banks have raised interest rates this year to tackle inflation.
As we reported earlier, votes for Scott Colom in Mississippi are starting to outpace those for his Republican opponent in what has been an otherwise neck-and-neck race for the state’s Senate seat.
According to the most recent tabulation from the Associated Press, Colom leads Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes with almost 96% of the vote counted – still a small margin, but increasingly significant after a lead of just 28 votes yesterday.
Strong support in majority-Black counties has helped make the seat in Mississippi unexpectedly competitive for Democrats. As of noon Wednesday, Colom had received about 73% of the vote in those counties while running neck-and-neck with Hyde-Smith statewide.
Nancy Pelosi has issued a statement after Connie Chan conceded in the race to fill the former speaker’s vacant seat, congratulating Democrat Scott Wiener on his election to the Congress.
Chan – also a Democrat and Pelosi’s chosen candidate – said she had no clear path to victory, despite the Associated Press not yet calling the race.
“Connie Chan brought courage, conviction and a deep love for San Francisco to this campaign,” Pelosi said in the statement.
As a working mom, a public servant, and an immigrant, she gave voice to families whose struggles she knows firsthand. I was proud to support her, and I am so proud of the campaign she ran.”
Pelosi also reflected on her historic run in the House, which saw her elected as the first female Speaker of the House almost 20 years ago.
For nearly four decades, San Franciscans have entrusted me with the privilege of being their voice in the House. My gratitude is boundless, and my confidence in our city’s future remains strong. Our work for a fairer, more just America continues.”
Democrat Connie Chan has conceded in the race to fill Nancy Pelosi’s vacant seat in the House of Representatives. Chan, Pelosi’s preferred candidate in the race, congratulated fellow Democrat Scott Wiener.
The Associated Press is yet to call the California race, but in a statement posted online, Chan said that she did not believe there was a viable path to victory.
I am deeply grateful to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for her trust and for four decades of extraordinary service.”
A state senator, Wiener is known for his work on housing and LGBTQ+ rights.
Continued from the last post:
Across the US, editors worked into the night on Tuesday to get out late editions of their papers. In Chicago, the Sun Times captured newly elected Senator Juliana Stratton as she celebrated her party’s victory, under the headline “Dem-olition”.
A slew of historic wins were recorded throughout the night, including the election of the first Muslim senator, the first openly gay senator and the first black female governor in the US.
Keisha Lance Bottom’s win was described as “historic” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution – an online publication which produces a daily front page. The paper notes that the governor-elect has shattered “racial and gender glass ceilings” on a day the US elected “four Black governors”.
Highlighting the end of the Republican party’s “stranglehold on Texas politics”, the Dallas Morning News captured two of the night’s biggest wins under the headline “Wave of change”.
Senator-elect James Talarico and Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa shared the front page, after a night that saw the Democrats sweep to victory in deep red Texas.
With the results showing hispanic voters swinging away from Trump, California’s Spanish-language daily La Opinión produced one of the more memorable front pages.
Above a picture of a battered Maga hat, the paper’s headline simply reads “National punishment”.
How papers across the world reacted to Trump's midterm loss
The results of America’s historic midterm elections reverberated around the world on Wednesday, with front pages reflecting on a night that saw Donald Trump dealt a punishing blow by the US electorate.
“Trumped” was the Guardian’s headline on Thursday’s edition, with reporter Ed Pilkington noting that, with the president’s party stripped of control of Congress, the country was waking up to a “radically altered political landscape”.
A late edition of the New York Post captured the scale of Trump’s defeat on Wednesday. Riffing on Hokusai’s Great Wave artwork, the paper notes it was a “historic romp for Democrats”, under the headline “Blue Tsunami”.
The English-language Tehran Times, which is closely aligned with the government, said in its headline: “US hegemony crumbling; Iran will never surrender”.
With a selection of midterms stories across the front page, the paper quotes senior figures under a subhead that reads “Iranian officials link Republican election defeat to US war against Iran”.
Mississippi count continues with Democratic candidate ahead by a razor-thin margin
Welcome to our continuing coverage of the 2026 midterms where almost 24 hours after Democrats secured their historic sweep of the US Congress, two Senate seats remain in play.
Counting in Alaska is expected to continue into Thursday, while in deep red Mississippi, Democrats could be close to pulling off another almighty upset. Currently, Democrat Scott Colom is leading his Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by just 1,138 votes with almost 96% of the vote counted.
In the last few hours, votes for Colom have been outpacing those for his Republican opponent, although new batches of votes have not been reported for several hours now.
Although a race this close would automatically trigger a recount in some states, Mississippi has no law on the books for initiating a recount.
Democrats haven’t won a US Senate seat in Mississippi since 1982, and Donald Trump carried the state by 22 points in 2024. It’s been much longer – not since 1875 – that the state elected a Black person to that office.
Colom is a seventh-generation Mississippian, whose father was a Republican who campaigned for Ronald Reagan and was friends with Thad Cochran, a longtime state politician. In 2015, he unseated a nearly 30-year incumbent when he was elected the first Black district attorney for the 16th circuit. As district attorney, he had a 94% success rate for convictions.
Meanwhile, after Democrats secured their historic wins in last night’s midterm elections, Republicans are beginning the blame game:
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Donald Trump claimed Republicans fared poorly because he was not on the ballot – after repeatedly urging voters to pretend he was on the ballot.
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JD Vance pointed to Trump’s ongoing war in Iran as the “obvious” culprit for the loss.
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Pete Hegseth’s role leading the unpopular war could lead to him taking the fall – despite Trump publicly backing him. Republicans including Trump foe Thomas Massie have criticized the defense secretary.
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Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor, said the “close to an extinction-level event for Republicans” was caused in part by his party failing to target their ad spending on issues that would motivate voters.
According to exit polls from the Associated Press, voters said the cost of living and government corruption were their two top issues. But how will Trump cope with this new political reality?
The Guardian’s David Smith explores that – and whether these elections mark the beginning of the end for Trump – this analysis piece here:
Related: US midterms voters said: enough is enough. Is this the beginning of the end for Trump?
