US midterms turn into verdict on Trump's Iran war as Democrats take both chambers
Democrats won control of both the US Senate and House in the November 3 midterms, with voters citing the Iran war and rising fuel costs as key concerns.
Democrats captured both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the US midterm elections on November 3, 2026. Exit polling showed that half of voters saw the vote as a chance to rebuke President Donald Trump, and 74% described the Iran war as a crucial or major factor in their choice. About 62% said the use of force was the wrong decision.
The war pushed up living costs. Diesel reached a record near $6.40 a gallon by mid-September, and gasoline averaged above $4.40. Brent crude rose from below $65 before the conflict to peaks near $130, according to Crisis Group. The Pentagon's cost estimate was reported at over $47 billion. On November 3, Trump acknowledged that Iran was a key factor in Republican losses.
The new Congress does not formally take office until January 3, 2027. Trump would keep considerable executive authority, including the veto, and could continue his military campaign against Iran. Democratic control of Congress gives lawmakers leverage to scrutinise the war's objectives and spending. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El Sayed won the Senate race and will become the first Muslim senator.