US midterms see Democrats take Congress as Republicans suffer heavy loss

The Democratic Party swept the United States midterm elections, gaining control of Congress as the Republican Party suffered a decisive defeat.

Voter sentiment was heavily influenced by rising living costs, with a North Carolina voter telling the BBC that “gas prices, grocery prices, everything’s going up,” prompting a switch from Republican to Democratic support. Inflation rose 3.7% in the year to September, driven by higher fuel and energy prices, and 79% of voters said inflation caused severe or moderate hardship for their families.

More than six in ten respondents blamed President Donald Trump for the price increases, linking higher costs to his policies. The war with Iran, launched by the US and Israel in February, further pushed fuel prices after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and LNG route. Sixty‑three per cent of those surveyed believed the US made the wrong decision to intervene, and 74% said the conflict was a crucial factor in their vote.

Strong Democratic candidates, such as James Talarico, Adam Hamilton, Annie Andrews, Abdul El‑Sayed and Senator Jon Ossoff, campaigned on cost‑of‑living and healthcare issues, resonating with voters in traditional Republican areas. The scale of the Democratic wave was highlighted by Trump’s own concession that the war played a role in the loss, though he maintained the intervention was necessary.

Source: BBC News. Photo: Element5 Digital / Pexels.