The 2026 midterm elections delivered a blue wave that returned Democratic majorities to both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Democrats captured Senate seats in states the party had not won in decades and reclaimed a House chamber that Republicans had controlled since 2023, resetting the balance of power in Washington for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term and returning the capital to divided government.

Democrats Flip Seven Senate Seats

The Democratic Party needed a net gain of four seats to win back the Senate, and many in the party had viewed 2026 as a testing ground.

“What we’re seeing in the early parts of 2026 really puts Democrats in a good position, as long as we don’t screw it up,” Jen O’Malley Dillon, a Democratic campaign strategist, said at a Dartmouth political event in April. “It’s never been more complex to find a way to reach people. We are such a polarized country when it comes to our politics and, and, you know, people are tuning out in a lot of ways and for good reason—because we need to survive.”

Democrats ultimately flipped seven Senate seats, in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, and Maine. Several of the victories came in longtime Republican strongholds. Kansas had not elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly 100 years, and a surge in turnout helped Democrats win across the South.

With control of the Senate, Democrats now hold an effective veto over Trump’s nominees for the rest of his term. Any confirmation will require at least some Democratic support to clear the chamber, and the majority hands the party the Senate floor agenda and its committee chairships.

Democrats Also Take the House

All 435 House seats were on the ballot, with Democrats entering election day holding 214. The party went on to flip 25 Republican-held seats, and CBS estimates Democrats could reach 259 seats—well above the 218 Republicans held going in. Because 218 seats are required to elect a Speaker, the projected margin would place the chamber’s gavel, agenda, and committee chairships in Democratic hands.

Wins came in battleground districts across North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, and Colorado.

Trump Loomed Over the Race

Trump was not on the ballot, but many voters treated the election as a referendum on his presidency. Across age demographics, between 39% and 60% of voters said their congressional vote was intended to express opposition to Trump, while only 7% to 22% said they voted to show support.

Opposition sentiment was strongest among the youngest voters: 60% of 18- to 29-year-olds said they voted with the intent to oppose Trump. Voters 65 and older were the most likely to say they were backing the president, at 22%, but even that group leaned toward opposition. Trump himself claimed Republicans would have “won IN A LANDSLIDE” if he had been on the ballot, according to a Truth Social post.

Approval Ratings Near Historic Lows

Trump entered election day near the bottom of historical presidential approval ratings. His most recent reading stood at 29%, as of Oct. 20—the lowest for any president since George W. Bush fell to 25% in October 2008 during the financial crisis. Midterm elections have historically worked against the president’s party, particularly in second terms.

Democrats Dominated Voters Under 65

Democrats won every age group under 65. Voters aged 18 to 29 backed Democratic House candidates 72% to 25% for Republicans, though they made up just 11% of the electorate—a sharp turn from 2024, when the youngest voters were roughly split between Trump and Kamala Harris.

The larger gains came from the middle of the voting population. Voters aged 30 to 44 went Democratic 60% to 36%, while voters 45 to 64—the second-largest group at 34% of the electorate—broke 51% to 47% for Democrats. Only voters 65 and older, the largest bloc at 35%, narrowly favored Republicans, 51% to 48%.

The Economy Stayed a Flashpoint

Concern about the economy remained a flashpoint among voters. Roughly four in 10 named the economy the most important issue facing the country, with the highest shares among Black voters (50%) and voters aged 30 to 44 (45%).

Different Issues, Different Votes

The issue a voter identified as most important was a strong predictor of their vote. About eight in 10 voters who ranked the state of democracy as their top issue backed the Democratic House candidate, while immigration was the clearest Republican issue—89% of those voters backed the GOP. Democrats and Republicans were close to evenly split among voters who prioritized the economy.

Questions of Checks and Balances

Many voters believed Congress had not done enough to check Trump’s presidential powers—a view held by 94% of voters who disapprove of the president. Voters who approved of him were divided.

Public trust in the branches of government was low across the board. In July, only 4% of adults reported a great deal of confidence in the people running Congress, while 53% had hardly any. The executive branch fared slightly better in public perception but still drew weak support.

With both chambers flipping, Democrats now control what Congress investigates, as the majority gives the party oversight of presidential powers. Committee chairships carry subpoena authority, and Congress’s power of the purse means federal spending must clear a Democratic-controlled Capitol before reaching the president’s desk.

A Historic Night

The incoming Senate class includes several historic firsts. Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed will be the first Muslim U.S. senator. Minnesota’s Peggy Flanagan will be the first Native American woman in the Senate. New Hampshire’s Chris Pappas will be the first openly gay man elected to the chamber. Iowa’s Josh Turek will be the first Paralympian senator, and South Carolina’s Annie Andrews will be the first woman elected to the Senate from her state.

In Kansas, Adam Hamilton became the state’s first Democratic senator since 1932. In Texas, James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton, ending a 38-year Democratic drought in the state’s Senate seat and overcoming Elon Musk’s $212 million effort to sway the race.

Markets React

Wall Street rallied broadly following the midterm results. The S&P 500 rose 1.8% on Wednesday morning and the Dow gained more than 1,000 points—but companies tied to Trump, Musk, and the AI buildout moved in the opposite direction. Trump Media fell 11.7%, adding to a 55% loss for the year. Musk had donated heavily to Republicans during the campaign, and both Tesla and SpaceX declined. Data center power providers also took hits, with Vistra down 9.6% and Vertiv down 8.7%. Defense contractors including Lockheed Martin and L3Harris lost about 4%. The appropriations power now sits with the incoming majorities, meaning federal spending—including the defense budget—will be set in negotiation with congressional Democrats.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.