Democrats win control of Congress as 75% of voters rate economy poor

Democratic candidates secured majority control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in Tuesday's midterms, marking a decisive change in the balance of power. This outcome ends the Republican hold on both chambers after the first two years of President Donald Trump's second term. Polling data indicates that anger over the cost of living was the primary factor influencing the electoral result.

The Associated Press surveyed approximately 80,000 voters across all 50 states to gauge public sentiment. Three quarters of those respondents described the state of the US economy as poor or not so good. Furthermore, four out of five participants said inflation caused moderate or severe hardship for their households. Joseph Ura, chair of the Department of Political Science at Clemson University, called the night a historic victory for the Democratic Party.

Democratic challengers campaigned relentlessly on lowering living expenses, successfully taking seats from Republicans in traditionally conservative areas. Gains occurred in states including Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina, where Democrats have not held Senate seats in decades. These victories represent a major shift in the geographic distribution of political power.

The US-Israeli war on Iran, which began in February, appears to have played a central role in turning voters against the administration. Tehran effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz, restricting the movement of oil and liquefied natural gas. This disruption led to a sharp rise in global energy prices, making fuel and food increasingly unaffordable for many American families.

Andrew Gawthorpe, a lecturer on US history and politics at Leiden University, noted that the swing of rural white voters toward the Democrats was unusual. He attributed this shift to sensitivity to gasoline prices, as people in these areas rely heavily on cars. Ura added that Democrats performed well in areas that voted for isolationist candidates in 2024, where voters were disappointed in Trump's decision to engage in another foreign war.

Corruption and cost of living ranked above immigration and the war in Iran as motivators for more than half of the voters polled. Democratic politicians accused the president and his family of amassing billions of dollars through policies that benefit their personal business interests. Financial disclosures show the president made more than $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency business deals, including income from his $TRUMP meme coin and World Liberty Financial.

Investors linked to the United Arab Emirates invested $500 million into World Liberty Financial days before the inauguration. Democrats cited this move as an example of influence-buying. Gawthorpe suggested that voters are more incensed by personal enrichment now because their economic situations have worsened, creating a strong connection between rising prices and wealth creation in the minds of the electorate.