Democrats win Senate, gaining leverage to check Trump

Democrats won control of the US Senate on Wednesday night, according to New York Times projections, securing a powerful platform to counter President Donald Trump after voters in Republican-leaning states delivered a midterm rebuke. The party clinched the majority with a win in Iowa and was also gaining competitive House seats, pointing to a lopsided margin in that chamber. The results promise divided government in Washington and a more assertive Congress after two years of Republican deference to Trump. Democrats began the election season with little chance of taking the Senate, but capitalized on voter unrest over the war with Iran, soaring fuel prices, and tariffs that raised living costs. They argued Republicans were profiting while ordinary Americans struggled.