WASHINGTON — American voters delivered a stinging rebuke to President Donald Trump in Tuesday's midterm elections, handing Democrats control of both chambers of Congress in a major political setback for the Republican administration.

The results mark a dramatic shift in the balance of power in Washington and threaten to significantly weaken Trump's ability to govern during the final two years of his term. With Democrats taking control of the Senate and projected to win the House of Representatives, the president will face a strengthened opposition capable of blocking legislation, launching investigations and challenging key elements of his political agenda.

The outcome also represents a broader rejection of Trump's leadership, with economic concerns, rising household expenses and dissatisfaction with the direction of the country emerging as decisive factors in the vote.

A historic setback for Republicans

Democrats made significant gains across the country, flipping seats in traditionally Republican states and reshaping the political landscape.

In the Senate, Republicans entered the election with a 53-to-47 majority. Democrats needed to retain their existing seats and flip at least four Republican-held seats to regain control.

They achieved that goal with victories in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Iowa and Kansas, while additional races in Michigan, Ohio and Alaska remained closely watched as vote counting continued.

Some of the results were particularly significant given the states' political history. Democrats had not won a Senate election in Texas since 1988, while Kansas had not elected a Democratic senator since 1932.

In the House of Representatives, all 435 seats were contested. CNN projected that Democrats would regain control of the chamber, ending the Republican majority and positioning Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to potentially become Speaker of the House.

The results represent a major reversal from the political landscape established after the 2024 presidential election.

The economy and cost of living drove the backlash

Economic dissatisfaction was one of the strongest forces behind the Democratic victory.

According to CNN's national exit polling, approximately 39% of voters identified the economy as their top concern, followed by the state of democracy at 32%, immigration at 14%, health care at 8%, foreign policy at 4% and crime at 3%.

Approximately 75% of voters said they were dissatisfied or worse with the situation in the country, while 62% disapproved of Trump's job performance and only 38% expressed approval.

The Associated Press voter survey also found that more than half of voters questioned whether Trump was a strong leader, whether he understood the concerns of ordinary Americans and whether he had the right priorities to lead the country effectively.

Rising prices, the cost of housing, fuel and groceries, as well as the economic consequences of Trump's tariff policies, contributed to growing frustration among voters.

The administration's foreign policy decisions, including the war in the Middle East and its impact on energy prices, also became a source of criticism during the campaign.

Despite Trump's extensive campaign schedule, including approximately 30 events in 32 days, Republican candidates struggled to convince voters that the economy was moving in the right direction.

Trump's reaction: "I wasn't on the ballot"

Trump responded to the Republican losses with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

"I wasn't on the ballot, and if I had been, we would have won in a landslide," the president wrote, in an apparent attempt to distance himself from the outcome.

The remark came after Trump had repeatedly urged voters to treat the midterm elections as a referendum on his presidency.

The president had campaigned extensively for Republican candidates and personally endorsed several contenders who ultimately lost or faced disappointing results.

The defeat also raised questions about Trump's influence over the Republican Party and the effectiveness of the MAGA movement as an electoral strategy.

What the Democratic victory means for Trump's presidency

The new congressional balance of power will have immediate consequences for the White House.

With Democrats controlling both chambers, Trump will face significantly greater obstacles in passing legislation, advancing his economic agenda and securing congressional support for major policy initiatives.

Democrats will also take control of key congressional committees, gaining the authority to hold hearings, subpoena documents and investigate government officials and administration policies.

Congressional investigations could focus on decisions made by the administration, potential conflicts of interest and other controversies involving the president and his inner circle.

Impeachment is also likely to return to the political debate. The House of Representatives has the constitutional authority to bring impeachment charges against a president, while the Senate conducts the trial. Conviction and removal from office, however, require a two-thirds majority in the Senate, making removal far from automatic.

The expression lame duck is likely to become increasingly relevant to Trump's political situation. It describes a president whose influence and ability to advance an agenda are weakened, particularly when the opposition controls Congress.

A Republican Party facing internal divisions

The election results are also expected to trigger a period of internal debate and political repositioning within the Republican Party.

Several candidates personally endorsed by Trump suffered defeats, raising concerns among Republican strategists about the political cost of maintaining an unconditional alliance with the president.

As the 2028 presidential election approaches, some Republicans may seek to distance themselves from Trump and the MAGA movement in an effort to broaden their appeal among independent and moderate voters.

For Democrats, meanwhile, the victory provides an opportunity to regain political momentum, strengthen their national leadership and position themselves for the next presidential election.

The message from American voters was unmistakable: two years after Trump's return to the White House, the balance of power in Washington has shifted dramatically.

The president now faces a divided political landscape, a more assertive opposition and a final two years in office that could be defined by legislative gridlock, congressional investigations and an increasingly difficult fight to preserve his political influence.