The key facts

  • Democrats won 53 Senate seats versus 41 for Republicans (AP data)
  • In the House of Representatives Democrats hold 215 seats, Republicans 126; 218 are needed for a majority
  • Trump said he was surprised by the results but would accept them; earlier he refused to consider the Republicans' defeat his own

Democrats are close to controlling both chambers of the US Congress

Following the midterm elections held on November 3, the US Democratic Party has gained control of the Senate and is on the verge of a majority in the House of Representatives. This is reported by the Associated Press citing vote-count data compiled by Gazeta.Ru. According to the agency, Democrats are winning 53 seats in the Senate versus 41 for Republicans, and in the House of Representatives they already lead with 215 seats to 126 — a majority requires 218 seats.

What other sources confirm and clarify

Earlier Bloomberg estimated that Democrats would win at least 51 of the 100 Senate seats, while the analytical portal DDHQ reported that the party would also take the House of Representatives. The AP figure of 53 Senate seats exceeds that minimum, but the situation in the House was not yet settled at the time of publication: Democrats hold 215 seats with 218 needed, meaning the outcome is formally undetermined, although AP describes the party's position as being 'on the verge' of control. The agency links the result to a 'broad rejection' of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, which, in its assessment, extended even to areas loyal to the Republicans.

Trump's reaction

US President Donald Trump, commenting on the results, noted that the outcome surprised him somewhat. In an interview with the New York Times, he said he would accept the results of the midterm elections. Earlier, as Gazeta.Ru reported, Trump refused to consider the Republicans' defeat his own.