US midterms 2026: Barack Obama hails Democrats' Congress takeover, urges Americans to unite

Former President Barack Obama has hailed the Democratic Partys performance in the US midterm elections after the party flipped both the House of Representatives and the Senate to take control of CongressIn a post on X Obama said the election results reflected the American peoples desire for a politics that brings people together rather than divides them and for leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they faceTonight the American people sent a clear message mdash they want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them and leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they face These results were only possible because outstanding candidates stepped forward in every region of the country mdash including in areas once considered long shots They came from different backgrounds and represented a range of political perspectives but were united by shared values a belief in public service and a commitment to putting the people of their districts and states first We also owe a debt of gratitude to the thousands of election officials and volunteers from both parties who helped ensure a smooth election and carried out one of the most essential functions of our democracy While this administration has another two years in office our job now is to roll up our sleeves make changes wherever we have the power to do so prevent further damage and lay the groundwork for the futuremdash Barack Obama BarackObama November 4 2026Tonight the American people sent a clear message mdash they want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them and leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they face These results were only possible because outstanding candidates stepped forward in every region of the country mdash including in areas once considered long shots They came from different backgrounds and represented a range of political perspectives but were united by shared values a belief in public service and a commitment to putting the people of their districts and states first Obama postedHe also thanked election officials and volunteers from both parties for ensuring the smooth conduct of the polls describing their work as one of the most essential functions of American democracyWe also owe a debt of gratitude to the thousands of election officials and volunteers from both parties who helped ensure a smooth election and carried out one of the most essential functions of our democracy While this administration has another two years in office our job now is to roll up our sleeves make changes wherever we have the power to do so prevent further damage and lay the groundwork for the future he addedMeanwhile US President Donald Trump told Fox News that he did not view the midterm losses as a reflection of his presidencyTrump dismisses midterm losses blames Republican candidates for failing to inspire votersI dont view it as a hit on meWeve had the greatest two years in the history of the presidency in terms of the economy in terms of all the things that weve done Trump told Fox News in a live phone interviewTrump also congratulated the Democrats while attributing the Republican losses to candidates who he said failed to inspire his voter baseWell I say this Congratulations to the Democrats They did a good job Theyve been looking for this one for 11 years and they finally got it Trump saidAccording to Fox News four key voter groups mdash young independent rural and Hispanic voters mdash shifted away from the Republican Party in large numbers with the Iran war and tariffs emerging as among the factors behind the shiftThe Democratic gains extended into traditionally Republican territory including South Carolina and Texas where the party won Senate seats Texas had not voted Democrat since 1994 The party also broke through nearly a century of Republican dominance in Kansas to win a Senate seatCNN reported that voters appeared to have considered several issues while casting their ballots including inflation Trumps tariffs the Iran war and concerns over his conduct and alleged selfenrichmentDemocratic control of Congress could intensify scrutiny of TrumpThe Democratic takeover of the House is expected to increase congressional scrutiny of Trump and his administration through committee investigations hearings and subpoenasControl of the Senate will also give Democrats greater influence over the confirmation of Trumps judicial and Cabinet nominees They could use their position to oppose appointments launch investigations issue subpoenas and put obstacles in the way of the Presidents legislative agendaWith ANI inputs