Picture This: Democrats Take Congress in US Midterm Elections

• Democrats won about 255 of 435 House seats and approximately 54–56 of 100 Senate seats, according to credible media reports. 
• Democrats also won at least 28 governorships, including those in Texas, Iowa, Georgia and Ohio.
• Recounts, litigation or runoffs in several states will probably delay the final numerical composition of Congress for weeks.
• President Donald Trump congratulated Democrats on their victory and relayed his intention to work with the new majority.
• Republicans will retain control of both chambers during the lame-duck session, until the 120th Congress convenes on Jan. 3, 2027. Their priorities include appropriations, the National Defense Authorization Act, farm subsidies, border enforcement and outstanding federal judicial nominations.

• Democratic control of both chambers will substantially increase congressional oversight of administration policies and provide the party with the power to constrain Trump’s domestic legislative agenda. 
• Even with the likelihood of broader legislative gridlock, selective bipartisan agreements remain quite feasible, especially on border security. 
• President Trump is likely to respond to the elections by placing greater reliance on executive authority, the use of executive orders, regulatory changes and emergency powers to advance his domestic agenda. 
• The election result is unlikely to produce a fundamental change in US foreign policy because the president retains extensive authority over diplomacy, sanctions and trade. 

• An impeachment inquiry into President Trump or senior cabinet officials would substantially reduce prospects for compromise beyond appropriations and other must-pass measures.
• An announcement that President Trump will seek a diplomatic solution and not request additional supplemental funding for the Middle East war would ease fiscal funding debates and lower the risk of a government shutdown.

This article was published by S&P Global Market Intelligence and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global.