The Democratic Party is flipping seats.
Seven Senate positions will switch from Republican to Democrat after Tuesday’s election: Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, and North and South Carolina. Kansas hasn’t had a Democratic senator in nearly a century.
More than two dozen districts will also shift power to the Democrats in the House of Representatives. Some of those districts voted for President Donald Trump by double digit percentages in 2024.
Democrats also held on to their seats in battleground states like Georgia and Michigan. Mississippi, Alaska, and Hawaii are still counting ballots. The Mississippi and Alaska races remain too close to call as of this writing. Democratic Governor Josh Green has a strong lead in Hawaii.
At present, Democrats will have 228 seats in the House of Representatives. They needed only 218 to reach a majority in the 435-member chamber. The Democratic count for Senate seats is now 54 out of the total 100.
The current House Democratic Leader is Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Now that his party will hold a majority in that chamber, his colleagues could elect him to the role of Speaker of the House. That would make history as Jeffries could become the first black person to hold the leadership position. The new Congress begins on January 3, 2027.
Democrat Chuck Schumer is the Senate minority leader. He closed his victory speech with a warning to his own party: “Americans voted for change and now, Democrats must deliver.”
House Democrats are promising a 100-day agenda. It will begin with efforts to lower the costs of gas, groceries, and other goods. Democrats also seek to reverse cuts to the Affordable Care Act—which addresses the cost of health insurance premiums for many in the United States—and Medicaid healthcare programs.
On the global stage, Democrats have vowed to hold votes against the Iran war. They also seek to reverse many tariffs imposed by President Trump.
Leaders around the world hope shifts in Congress will alleviate international concerns. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says, “I can’t get people’s cost of living pressures down until the conflict in the Middle East is resolved (and) the conflict in Ukraine started by Russia. These are the things we have to focus on now, and I hope the world has a moment to do that.”
President Trump has acknowledged the Democrats’ wins. He says he will work with those from the other party. He does warn of gridlock ahead if Democrats’ agendas collide with his own goals.
“I don’t want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything,” he told Politico.
I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. — 1 Timothy 2:1-2
