US midterm polls: Democrats take control of Senate from Trump’s Republican party, ahead in House

The Democrats took control of the United States Senate from the Republicans and were ahead in the House of Representatives contest as votes in the mid-term elections were being counted.

The polling was held on Tuesday.

Before the polls, President Donald Trump-led Republican party had a 53:47 majority in the 100-member Senate. It had a slim 219:214 majority in the 435-member Lower House of the Congress.

As of 11 am Indian time on Wednesday, the Democrats had won in 52 seats and the Republicans in 40, AP reported. The Democrats were also leading in one of the eight seats that were yet to be called.

The Democrats had won 194 seats and the Republicans 115, according to data from AP. The remaining 126 seats had not been called. A party needs 218 seats for a majority.

Several US news networks were projecting that the Democrats would secure at least 244 seats in the House.

The elections are being viewed as a verdict on Trump’s second term as the president. Trump and the Republican party’s approval ratings have been hurt by the rising cost of living, the economic turmoil triggered by his tariffs and the US-Israel war on Iran, which has driven global oil prices.

Historically, the party of the sitting president loses majority in both Houses...

Read more