President Donald Trump congratulated Democrats after the Associated Press reported they had won control of both chambers in the Nov. 3 midterms, contrasting with his 2018 warning over House investigations.
CBS News separately projected Democratic control of both chambers. The reports described party control rather than a final certified nationwide seat tally.
U.S. House History, Art & Archives records show Democrats organized as the House majority after the 2018 election. U.S. Senate party records show Republicans went from 51 seats before that election to 53 at the start of the 116th Congress on Jan. 3, 2019. Democrats held 45 seats and two independents held the remaining seats.
At a White House press conference on Nov. 7, 2018, Trump called the election an “incredible day.” He said nine of the 11 candidates he campaigned with during the previous week had won. Trump praised then-House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and said he could provide votes for her speakership if she needed them.
Trump also warned that investigations by the incoming House majority would put the parties in a “warlike posture.”
In a Nov. 3 call with CBS News, Trump said he congratulated Democrats and looked forward to working with them. “My message is, congratulations to the Democrats,” he told CBS. He also said he believed Republicans would have won if he had been on the ballot.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) says state election offices certify results and the commission compiles them afterward. Its published results archive does not yet include a 2026 compilation.
