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Trump suffers crushing Election Day defeat as Democrats seize control of the House: First domino falls as Republicans brace for 'blue tsunami'

Trump suffers crushing midterms defeat as Democrats seize control of the House and Senate in historic blue tsunami as President's closest allies are warned it's time to 'lawyer up'

Democrats have seized the House of Representatives and the Senate in a devastating double blow to President Trump that could mark the beginning of the end for the MAGA era.

In what amounted to a political earthquake, the midterm elections saw a series of deep-red states turn blue.

In Texas, Democratic newcomer James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, while South Carolina elected a Democrat senator for the first time since 1998.

Most remarkably of all, Kansas sent a Democrat to the US Senate, which it had not done since 1932 during the Great Depression.

There were further stunning Democrat Senate victories in Iowa and Ohio, states Trump won by more than 10 points in the presidential election in 2024.

In one of the most-watched races left-wing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed declared victory over Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, making him the first Muslim elected to the Senate.

Jubilant Democrats described the results as a 'blue tsunami' or a 'Bluenami.'

Although he was not on the ballot, the midterms were effectively a nationwide referendum on Trump. Republicans' crushing losses were a dagger to the heart for the White House where a vicious blame game immediately began.

Voters appeared to have passed a damning judgment on Trump's inability to bring down the cost of living for ordinary Americans, according to exit polls.

The results, reflecting a huge shift in Trump's once impressive MAGA base, will also cast a cloud over any ambitions Vice President JD Vance has for a 2028 run.

Losing both chambers of Congress will mean Trump entering lame duck territory in his final two years in office.

He will face Democrat-led corruption investigations into himself, his allies and family, and could even be impeached for a third time. 

Even though he wasn't on the ballot the midterms were effectively a referendum on President Trump 

Democratic congressman Robert Garcia will lead some of the probes as the chair of the House Oversight Committee. 

He issued a blunt two-word statement: 'Lawyer up.'

It also means Trump will now be blocked from getting much of his agenda through Congress.

The President will have to rely on issuing executive orders in areas where he retains authority, including tariffs, immigration, foreign policy and military actions, and the use of his veto power to stop Democrats getting their policies made law.

Immediately after the House was called, a defiant Trump wrote on Truth Social: 'I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!'

Earlier, in a sign of election night frustration, he had raged at Fox News when the first polls closed, writing on Truth Social that their exit poll questions were 'BULLS***.'

The Fox News poll showed 87 percent of voters were concerned about gas prices and 62 percent blamed Trump.

He then texted Fox News host Greg Gutfeld live on air, telling him: 'I inherited the worst prices and inflation in history from Sleepy Joe. Prices are heading down FAST!'

Democrat Dr Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, pulled off a shock victory in the Senate race in South Carolina over President Trump's personally chosen candidate Darline Graham, the sister of the late Lindsey Graham 

James Talarico, who put his Christian faith at the center of his campaign, turned Texas blue

Among the early race calls, Trump suffered his first significant blow as Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff crushed the President's hand-picked Republican challenger Mike Collins in Georgia.

That was quickly followed by the first Republican loss of a Senate seat that the party held. In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper stormed to a quick victory over Trump favorite Michael Whatley.

Democrats then picked up a Senate seat in South Carolina. Pediatrician Dr Annie Andrews narrowly defeated Republican Darline Graham, who was personally chosen by Trump and had sought to permanently fill the seat of her late brother Lindsey Graham.

Trump won South Carolina in a landslide by 17 points in 2024. He held rallies with Graham in the state twice in eight days in late October, at which he called Andrews 'Tranny Annie.' 

Texas was then called for Talarico, a 37-year-old former schoolteacher who had put his Christian faith at the heart of his campaign with the slogan 'Love Thy Neighbor.' He overcame Paxton, the scandal-plagued Republican state attorney general, who had been backed by Trump.

During the campaign Trump had dubbed the Democrat 'Talafreako' and falsely told Texas voters he was a vegan.

The Lone Star State had not elected a Democratic senator since 1988. It also backed a Democrat, Gina Hinojosa, for governor, for the first time since Ann Richards was elected in 1990.

Kansas then fell as Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, defeated sitting senator and Trump loyalist Roger Marshall.

The rural state emerged as an unexpected battleground amid soaring diesel prices caused by the Iran war. 

Trump held rallies twice there toward the end of the campaign in an ultimately futile bid to save Marshall, a doctor who had been forced to fend off attacks that he sued his own patients and had a house in Florida.

Jubilant Talarico supporters at an election watch party in Austin. Texas 

Democrat Jon Ossoff dealt an early election night blow to Trump by winning his Senate seat in Georgia

Celebrations among Jon Ossoff supporters in Atlanta, Georgia 

Iowa was also hit by high fuel prices, helping Democrat Josh Turek, a Paralympian basketball player, to defeat Republican Ashley Hinson, a former broadcast journalist.

Many had thought Susan Collins, the Republican senator from Maine, could buck the trend. She has been in office for 30 years and clashed with Trump over issues including the Iran war. But in the early hours she conceded defeat. 

Meanwhile, in a late-night speech in Detroit, Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed said: 'Michigan, we did it!' During the campaign, Trump had called him a 'jihadist.'

In a late-night call to Fox News, Trump admitted high fuel prices had been a factor in the rejection of his candidates, saying: 'The gasoline was caused by Iran.'

But he added: 'I don't view it as a hit on me. There was a mood in the air, I guess, and if you look, I shouldn't feel guilty.

'I think the Democrats did a good job, I really do. They fought hard.'

The President told the New York Times he was 'absolutely willing' to accept the results and would 'probably work something out' with Democrats.

Barack Obama ripped into Trump, saying the American people had 'sent a clear message' to the White House.

Democrats in Congress would work to 'prevent further damage' over the next two years, he said.

An expansive Associated Press Voter Poll found the electorate had been looking for change, with 75 percent saying they felt 'angry' or 'dissatisfied' with the way things are going in the country.

Roughly six in 10 blamed high prices on Trump's policies, and 71 percent wanted Congress to provide more checks and balances on the presidency.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate were up for grabs on November 3 

Democratic congressman Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become the first black Speaker of the House

About four in ten said the economy was the most important issue, while three in ten said it was 'democracy,' according to the poll - both well above crime, healthcare and immigration.

On the eve of the election, Trump's approval rating was just 32 percent in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, with 64 percent disapproving of his job performance.

Some 78 percent of ​voters said the cost of living was the most important, or a very important, factor in their decision.

And 49 percent of Democrats were 'very enthusiastic' about voting compared with just 33 percent of Republicans.

The Daily Mail spoke with voters around the country who said affordability – including high gas and diesel prices due to the Iran war – was the overwhelming issue of concern. 

In a CNN exit poll, 65 percent said Trump had worsened economic conditions.

That poll found 16 percent of people were casting their vote to support Trump, 43 percent to oppose Trump, and for 41 percent he was not a factor.

Evidence suggests many Latino voters who backed Trump in 2024 also returned to the Democratic fold amid frustration over the economy and roundups by ICE.

The new Speaker is expected to be Hakeem Jeffries, the New York congressman and current Democratic leader in the House. He will replace Republican Mike Johnson.

Jeffries, 56, formerly a corporate lawyer, will be the first black Speaker of the House, and the position will make him second in line to the presidency after the Vice President.

Food and gas prices were very much on voters' minds as they went to the polls

A woman leaves a polling station after voting in Georgia

In addition to overseeing investigations into the Trump family, he plans to lead a legislative agenda aimed at reversing Medicaid cuts, restoring Obamacare subsidies, and reducing the costs of groceries, housing and energy.

Going into the midterms, Republicans had a slim 218-214 majority in the 435-seat House. One independent member caucused with Republicans and two seats were vacant.

The Republicans held a comfortable majority of 53-47 in the 100-seat Senate.

All seats in the House, and 35 Senate seats were up for election this time. Of the 35 Senate seats 22 were held by Republicans, and 13 by Democrats.

A total of 36 of the 50 states were also holding elections for governor.

Early voting had been underway for weeks and, in the end, over 100 million people are believed to have cast ballots.

A record-breaking $12 billion was spent on adverts, according to advertising intelligence agency AdImpact.

Some $4 billion of that was spent in October alone as TV viewers were bombarded with incessant ads, many of them negative attacks on opponents.

The results of the midterms could cast a cloud over any upcoming 2028 White House bid by JD Vance

Mike Johnson, the Republican House Speaker, will have to hand over the gavel to Democrats

In the final month, Republicans slightly outspent Democrats, with Elon Musk alone pouring in over $300 million.

The states where most was spent were Texas, Ohio and Michigan.

Held in the middle of each four-year presidential term, midterm elections do not involve the President, but they are generally a setback for his party.

They are a chance for voters to make their feelings known about the first two years of an administration, and to call for a change in direction.

In 2006, during the Republican presidency of George W Bush, Democrats achieved a so-called 'blue wave' of gains amid a backlash to the war on terror.

Four years later, in 2010, Republicans won 63 extra House seats in what the incumbent Democratic president Barack Obama described as a 'shellacking' for his party.

In 2018, during Trump's first term, Democrats gained 40 House seats in the midterms.

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Blake Lively looked as if she had some new pep in her step when she was spotted out in New York City on Tuesday night in a stunning little black dress.

The 39-year-old Gossip Girl star was spotted out in Manhattan's Upper East Side for an event celebrating the launch of jeweler Brent Neale's new holiday collection, according to E! News.

Although Lively was reportedly joined by friends, her husband Ryan Reynolds, 50, didn't appear by her side.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lively's representative for comment but hasn't yet heard back. 

Lively – who recently revealed her over-the-top beauty regimen – channeled classic glamour in her skimpy black dress, which was decorated with glittering sequins.

The off-the-shoulder minidress featured a playful black bow that covered her cleavage for a touch of modesty.

Blake Lively looked as if she had some new pep in her step when she was spotted out in New York City on Tuesday night in a stunning little black dress

The 39-year-old Gossip Girl star was spotted out in Manhattan's Upper West Side for an event celebrating the launch of jeweler Brent Neale's new holiday collection, according to E! News

Lively – who recently revealed her over-the-top beauty regimen – channeled classic glamour in her skimpy black dress, which was decorated with glittering sequins

Lively's short skirt showcased her toned legs, which culminated in clear Louboutins that strapped around her ankles and featured black-tipped toes.

The It Ends with Us star, who is stepping out in the wake of her bruising legal drama with her former costar and director Justin Baldoni, wore her long blond hair in dramatic waves cascading down her shoulders.

She completed her glamorous ensemble with a simple black leather hobo handbag, and she added some extra sparkle with dangling earrings and multiple enormous sparkling rings.

Lively looked as if she was on top of the world as she beamed for photographers outside the shindig.

The outing comes after Lively revealed the secrets of the beauty regimen she uses to look as if she's in the 'first trimester of life' last week.

The actress took to her Instagram Story to share a candid clip of the nighttime routine she uses to maintain her 'natural beauty.'

She appeared to be wearing headgear with red-light therapy over her hair, in addition to a sheet mask with extra pieces she had pasted to her bare face. 

The Gossip Girl alumna was also bundled up in a brown fleece hoodie while seemingly winding down for the night with her beauty routine.

The off-the-shoulder minidress featured a playful black bow that covered her cleavage for a touch of modesty

Lively's short skirt showcased her toned legs, which culminated in clear Louboutins that strapped around her ankles and featured black-tipped toes

The It Ends with Us star wore her long blond hair in dramatic waves cascading down her shoulders

She completed her glamorous ensemble with a simple black leather hobo handbag

Lively added some extra sparkle with dangling earrings and multiple enormous sparkling rings

Lively looked as if she was on top of the world as she beamed for photographers outside the shindig

The outing comes after Lively revealed the secrets of her beauty regimen last week

She joked that her go-to products make her look as if she's in the 'first trimester of life'

The actress took to her Instagram Story to share a candid clip of the nighttime routine she uses to maintain her 'natural beauty' 

Lively gave a glimpse into her cozy wind-down routine shortly after the drama involving her film It Ends With Us and her director and costar Justin Baldoni. 

'Natural beauty is effortless,' she quipped at the bottom of her post, which pictured her taking a deep breath while the mask covered her face.

Lively also drew thought bubbles around her face, and in one, she wrote: 'If I don't look like I'm in the first trimester of life after this much effort I quit.' 

She continued: 'I miss the 2000s when we just used that handsoap with fish characters on it on our face & called it a day.' 

The Gossip Girl star also noted the lights in the background of her room in another thought bubble: 'My kids' star projector that I stole is a vibe tho.'

She set her candid post to the tune of Fergie and Ludacris' 2006 smash hit Glamorous.

The mother of four – who shares James, 11; Inez, ten; Betty, seven; and Olin, three, with her husband Ryan Reynolds – often shares snippets of her hair and beauty routines on social media.

In August, she shared a video of herself getting ready in her bathroom before rushing out the door as a busy mother and businesswoman. 

The mother of four – who shares James, 11; Inez, ten; Betty, seven; and Olin, three, with her husband Ryan Reynolds – often shares snippets of her hair and beauty routines on social media; above with Reynolds in April 2025 in NYC

In August, she shared a video of herself getting ready in her bathroom before rushing out the door as a busy mother and businesswoman

Her post comes after she was in a legal battle with Baldoni, and the former costars settled right before their trial was set to begin. Baldoni was ultimately ordered to pay $400,000 of Lively's legal fees earlier this year; pictured together in It Ends With Us

'The look: no time but need to look cute while ALSO raising children,' the movie star, who was seen using products from her Blake Brown haircare brand, wrote over the clip. 

'Moment of truth: bun out after running around the city,' she continued, before almost running out the door with her pants unbuttoned.

Her post comes after she was in a legal battle with Baldoni, and the former costars settled right before their trial was set to begin. 

Baldoni was ultimately ordered to pay $400,000 of Lively's legal fees. 

Lively previously sued Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer in December 2024. 

Right before their trial was set to begin earlier this year, Lively was awarded just over $400,000 of the $8 million she sought in legal fees from their dispute due to his countersuit. 

In her lawsuit, Lively asserted that she was subjected to sexual harassment as well as retaliation, alleging he orchestrated a smear campaign to harm her reputation after she brought up complaints about his behavior on set.  

In response, Baldoni denied harassment and claimed Lively made complaints to seize creative control of the movie. 

In June 2025, the countersuit was thrown out. In May of this year, just two weeks before the scheduled trial date, the former costars reached their settlement.

They also released a joint statement, writing that they 'remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.' 

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