Democrats took control of Congress on Tuesday night, delivering a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump and his economic record as voters expressed deep dissatisfaction with rising prices, government corruption and the construction of AI data centers.
The party has won two stunning victories in the traditionally Republican state of Texas. James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from the state in nearly 40 years. Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Governor Greg Abbott to become the first Democratic governor of Texas since Ann Richards left office in 1995. Texas has become the clearest measure of how far the blue wave has reached. Democrats swept the state’s top races in a Republican stronghold long considered untouchable.
These victories were part of a wave of Democratic expansion. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Darling Graham in a race that was expected to go to Republicans. In Ohio, Sherrod Brown defeated Republican Sen. Jon Husted. Democrats also flipped Senate seats in Iowa and North Carolina and won key races in Georgia and New Hampshire.
The results showed a significant collapse for Trump’s candidacy. Mr. Paxton, Mr. Graham and Mr. Husted were among the leading candidates who lost the race despite the president’s endorsement dozens of times.
The election also intensified political battles over data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Texas is a major hub for planned data center construction, and Hinojosa campaigned for a moratorium on new projects until the state adopts stricter rules. Her victory gives Democrats more influence over Texas’ approach to expansion, although the state Legislature remains in Republican hands.
The results also dealt a blow to tech billionaires and business interests who have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into supporting Republican candidates who may be sympathetic to the massive AI data center projects they are seeking to build across the country. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and the biggest individual political donor in Cycle history, has spent record sums unsuccessfully to help keep the Republican Party in power, including in Texas.
Musk’s spending may have been a burden as voters expressed concerns about government corruption and billionaires’ growing influence in exit polls. Talarico repeatedly attacked Musk on the campaign trail, accusing him of trying to buy “his own personal U.S. Senate seat.”
“Tonight’s results are a wake-up call to the corporate special interests and billionaires who have been rigging our economy,” said Rep. Chris Pappas, who defeated former Republican Sen. John Sununu to win New Hampshire’s vacant Senate seat.
The outcome will likely reshape the relationship between the technology industry and Washington. A more hostile Congress is likely to increase scrutiny of tech companies and the construction of AI data centers. As the scale of the Democratic advance became clearer, the market reacted as follows: dow futures Fall down S&P500 futures I skated on a Tuesday evening.
Economic grievances were also central to Democratic victories. Many voters blamed President Trump’s tariffs and war with Iran for worsening economic conditions while continuing to squeeze the cost of living.
With Democrats in control of both houses of Congress, the party will be able to exert a strong check on Trump during the final two years of his term, including blocking some of his policies and increasing Congressional oversight. The results sent a clear warning that promises to cut costs had failed to overcome voter dissatisfaction with prices, corruption and the direction of the country.
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