Trump-backed candidates lose big in 2026 midterms

President Donald Trump's endorsed Republican candidates suffered widespread defeats in the 2026 midterm elections, as Democrats secured control of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Democrats flipped seven Senate seats and enough House districts to win both chambers by Wednesday morning. Trump campaigned heavily for Republicans, urging voters to treat the election as a referendum on him, but his low approval rating and issues like the Iran war and economy contributed to losses. Key Senate defeats included incumbents in Kansas, Maine, Ohio, and South Carolina, plus open seats in Iowa and Texas. Notable House losses occurred in Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas, while gubernatorial races in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas also went to Democrats. Trump claimed on Election Day he was "not" on the ballot, saying he would have won in a landslide if he had been.