WASHINGTON — Democrats swiftly won control of the U.S. House and picked up six key Senate seats in Tuesday’s midterm elections in a rebuke of President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans amid rising voter discontent with the U.S. economy and the war in Iran.

With several key Senate races still to be called, Democrats appear all but certain to have unified control of Congress, setting up the first real check on Trump’s power in Washington since he returned to the White House two years ago.

Several news organizations projected that Democrats would win a majority of the chamber, as the party rode a wave of voter dissatisfaction driven by cost-of-living concerns exacerbated by an unpopular war in Iran.

Meanwhile, Democrats are projected to flip Senate seats in Kansas, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa and Ohio, all Republican strongholds. They need a net gain of four seats to win control of that chamber, but must defend seats in Michigan and Minnesota.

Throughout the campaign, Republicans struggled to create distance between themselves and the president, whose approval ratings plunged to all-time lows in the weeks leading up to the election as he urged supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot.

Democratic candidates capitalized on that frustration, picking up seats across the country, including several in ruby red states and districts Republicans easily carried in 2024. They gained seats in Indiana, North Carolina, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, among others. NBC News estimated that Democrats would end up with 252 House seats to 183 seats for Republicans.

The uncertainty cast by a divided government in Washington caused investors to pull back from riskier assets. U.S. equity futures extended losses and the dollar dropped, while Treasuries were boosted as investors shifted into havens.

In the race for the Senate, James Talarico of Texas was projected to defeat Republican Ken Paxton in the state’s hotly contested Senate race, becoming the first Democrat to win a statewide election there in roughly three decades. Trump’s feud with longtime Senator John Cornyn resulted in his GOP primary defeat at the hands of Paxton, whom many considered to be the weaker general election candidate.

Decision Desk HQ also projected Adam Hamilton to win in Kansas, marking the first time a Democrat has won a Senate seat there since 1932. Republican Senator Roger Marshall, whose campaign was beset by allegations of aggressive billing practices at his medical office, struggled against rising diesel prices and Trump tariffs that he supported, which affected his state.

Former Senator Sherrod Brown beat Republican Senator Jon Husted in the race for an Ohio Senate seat, CNN projected. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek was projected to defeat Republican Representative Ashley Hinson for a GOP-held Senate seat, according to DDHQ.

Democrat Annie Andrews was also projected by the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ to pull off a stunning victory in deep red South Carolina defeating Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Darline Graham had filled the seat on a temporary basis, but Trump urged her to seek a full term.

Democrat Roy Cooper, the former governor of North Carolina, prevailed over Republican Michael Whatley, the Associated Press and NBC News projected. Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Chris Pappas of New Hampshire were also projected to win their races. Still, Democrats must hold seats in Michigan and Minnesota to maintain their chances of taking the Senate.

In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms was projected to become the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history and the first Democrat to win the state’s governor’s mansion since 1998.

Trump, who took in the election results alongside Cabinet officials and advisers in the East Room of the White House, told the New York Times he was “absolutely willing” to accept the outcome.

Still, he struck a defiant tone, telling CBS News before returns came in that he would embrace becoming “Mr. Veto” if Democrats took control of Congress.

The White House also cast blame on GOP candidates, with one official saying on condition of anonymity that Trump did a better job promoting office-seekers than they did themselves.

“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump posted on social media.

The president, however, handpicked many officials running in competitive races. His appointments and political feuds with fellow Republicans also resulted in several open Senate seats.

The change in House control, which will take effect Jan. 3, will end Trump’s ability to pass bills solely with Republican support. But that shift is unlikely to result in much successful legislation, as Trump maintains his grip on the White House and has vowed to wield the presidential veto.

Still, the election will hand Democrats powerful investigative tools, which they’re expected to train on the president and his administration, family and business interests. That includes the authority to issue subpoenas — and to undertake impeachment proceedings.

The business world is already bracing for an onslaught of investigations, as Democrats are expected to single out private sector players seen as cozying up to the Trump administration for any signs of special treatment, from contract wins to merger and acquisition approvals. Deals struck with the president’s business interests and family as well as donations to his pet projects, including construction of a new White House ballroom, are among expected targets.

Democrats overcame a sizeable Republican cash advantage, as well as an unusual mid-decade effort in several Republican-led states to redraw district lines to favor the party’s candidates. Democrats followed suit, but on-net the resulting map favored Republicans.

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(With assistance from Kate Sullivan, Jeff Mason, Courtney Subramanian and Jennifer A. Dlouhy.)

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