Democrats Rout Republicans In Midterms

What happened

Updated 11:01am ET

Democrats won control of the House and Senate in a sweeping midterm victory, ending Republicans’ unified control of Washington.
Democrats flipped Senate seats in Republican strongholds including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, and defeated Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Republican strategists blamed Trump’s tariffs, the Iran war and high prices for the losses, while Trump said his absence from the ballot hurt turnout.
Tesla and SpaceX shares fell Wednesday as broader markets rose, after Elon Musk spent nearly $500 million backing Republicans who suffered major defeats, including in Texas.
Some races remain uncalled, leaving Democrats’ final majorities unsettled as they prepare to take control in January and launch investigations into Trump’s administration and Musk’s companies.

How the left told it

Left-leaning outlets framed the results as a sweeping rejection of Trump and a new check on his power. The New York Times called the outcome a “wipeout,” while CNN highlighted how his endorsements and redistricting efforts backfired; the Times also examined Musk’s stock losses and exposure to congressional investigations.

How the right told it

Right-leaning outlets also emphasized the scale of the Republican defeat and anger over Trump’s leadership. Fox News described a “spectacular drubbing” and highlighted conservatives blaming war, prices and weak candidates. The New York Post called the result a “significant blow” to Musk as his companies’ shares fell.