WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump claimed Republicans would have won the 2026 midterm elections by a landslide had he personally been on the ballot, as Democrats recorded significant victories in congressional races and moved closer to taking control of the House of Representatives.
Trump made the remark in a post on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday night, November 3, as election results pointed to a difficult night for Republican candidates.
“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 wrote.
The post came after Trump had repeatedly urged voters to treat the midterm elections as a test of his presidency. During campaign rallies, he had asked supporters to imagine that he was on the ballot and vote for Republican candidates.
The midterms do not decide the presidency, but they determine the composition of Congress. The outcome can significantly influence the president’s ability to pass legislation and shape the political agenda during the remaining two years of the term.
Democrats Score Major Senate Victories
Democrats secured notable victories in several closely watched Senate races, including contests in South Carolina and North Carolina.
In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham, a candidate endorsed by Trump. The result marked the first Democratic Senate victory in the state in more than two decades and represented a major upset in a state that has traditionally leaned Republican in federal elections.
In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley, flipping a Republican-held Senate seat. Democrats also held Georgia, where incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff won re-election. The results strengthened the Democratic position as the party sought to gain the seats needed to take control of the Senate. However, the chamber’s final balance remained uncertain while votes in key races were still being counted.
The Senate contests were among the most closely watched races of the midterm elections, as control of the chamber would determine which party could shape its legislative agenda and influence confirmations and congressional oversight.
House Majority at Risk for Republicans
Democrats also made substantial gains in the House of Representatives, defeating Republican incumbents and winning competitive open-seat races. The party appeared positioned to secure the net gain required to take control of the chamber. All 435 seats in the House were contested in the midterm elections. A Democratic majority would give the party greater influence over legislation, congressional investigations and oversight of the Trump administration.
The results came amid voter concerns about the economy, living costs, government corruption and the country’s direction. These issues appeared to weigh on Republican candidates, even as Trump campaigned for them and sought to make the elections a test of his leadership. A change in House control could significantly alter the political environment in Washington. If Democrats take the majority, they would be able to set the chamber’s agenda and use committee leadership to scrutinise the administration’s policies and actions.
While the House outcome appeared to favour Democrats, the final composition of Congress was not yet settled as election officials continued counting ballots in several contests.
Trump’s Statement Follows Republican Election Setbacks
Trump’s Truth Social post did not concede defeat or address individual election results. Instead, he argued that Republican candidates would have performed much better had he personally been on the ballot. The claim was Trump’s own assessment and was not accompanied by evidence demonstrating that his presence would have changed the outcome. His comments also came after he had urged voters during the campaign to treat the midterms as a referendum on his administration.
The White House maintained a defiant tone following the Democratic gains. A White House official argued that Trump himself was not on the ballot, while suggesting that his supporters could be more likely to turn out when he is directly a candidate. The official also defended Trump’s campaigning for Republican candidates. The midterm results could have lasting consequences for the administration. A Democratic majority in either chamber would give the opposition party greater power to influence legislation and conduct congressional oversight. The outcome could also shape the political strategies of both parties ahead of the next presidential election.
As vote counting continued, Trump’s statement became a central response to the early results: he emphasised that he was not a candidate, while Democrats pointed to their victories as evidence of a shift in the political mood.
The final balance of power in Congress remained dependent on the remaining races and official vote counts.
