Democrats have won control of both chambers of the US Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, alongside a series of historic victories that could reshape American politics.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the first Black Speaker of the House after Democrats regained control of the chamber. The party also won back the Senate.
“The American people have spoken,” Jeffries told supporters in Washington, saying voters had rejected extremism and corruption and wanted a Congress focused on delivering results.
Several states recorded landmark victories.
In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson to become the first Black woman elected governor in US history and the state’s first female governor.
Texas also saw two major breakthroughs. State Representative Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott to become the state’s first Latina governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since 1990.
In the Senate race, state Representative James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat elected to the US Senate from Texas since 1988.
Other historic wins included David Crowley becoming Wisconsin’s first Black governor, Deb Haaland becoming New Mexico’s first female Native American governor, and Chris Pappas of New Hampshire becoming the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate.
In Kansas, Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the state since 1932. Annie Andrews also won a Senate seat in South Carolina, marking the first Democratic victory there since 1998.
The results came amid voter concerns about the economy and the cost of living under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Although counting continued in some races early Wednesday, Democrats appeared headed for a larger than expected majority in the House, marking a major shift in control of Congress.
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