Democrats Win Senate and House in Midterms; Schumer Says He Will Stay as Leader

Democrats won control of the U.S. Senate and secured majorities in both chambers in the midterm elections, although several races had not been called. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on X that the party had 54 seats and counting. Republicans who lost include Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Jon Husted of Ohio, and Senate nominees including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, the first Democratic win for that office in more than 30 years. Schumer said he will be reelected majority leader at next month's leadership elections, despite a handful of newly elected Democratic senators who threatened to withhold support. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola challenged Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Trump administration sued last month to block certification if Sullivan finished behind her, and a federal judge dismissed the suit on Sunday. Democrats say they will address high living costs and confront President Donald Trump.

The right-leaning Washington Examiner leads with Schumer's grilling photo, which overlays defeated Republicans, Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and treats it as a sign of Democratic confidence. It lists the losing candidates and the Texas governor's race, and says nothing of Alaska's litigation or Schumer's internal critics. CBS News, on the left, headlines Schumer's vow of a legislative barrier against Trump. It centers on Peltola's account of the Alaska race: her claim that fraud accusations backfired, her criticism of Sullivan's Iran war votes, the dismissed lawsuit, and a New York Times report on an alleged plan involving Sullivan's namesake, which she denies. Both sides agree Democrats made broad gains with Schumer at the center. They differ on tone and focus: the Examiner stresses mockery of Republican losses, while CBS stresses opposition to Trump and the legal disputes. The Hill adds dissent among new Democratic senators, while France 24 stresses voter demands on costs.