Late Tuesday, President Donald Trump sought to distance himself from Republicans’ 2026 midterm performance, arguing that his absence from the ballot cost the party victories.
Trump Blames Absence From Ballot for GOP Losses
“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” he wrote on Truth Social, signing off with, “President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
At the same time, in an interview with The New York Times, Trump attributed Republican losses to his absence from the ballot and said he was ready to work across party lines.
“I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” Trump told the newspaper when asked whether he would accept the election outcome.
“We’ll work with the Democrats, and we’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out,” he added.
Democrats Take Senate Control, Close In On House Majority
The Associated Press has called the Senate for Democrats, who are also close to securing control of the House.
Democrats flipped Senate seats in Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, among other victories.
As of the latest AP figures, Democrats held 52 Senate seats to Republicans’ 41, with 7 races still uncalled.
In the House, Democrats had secured 204 seats against Republicans’ 123, with 108 races still uncalled. A party needs 218 seats to control the chamber.
Democrats also led the gubernatorial results, winning 24 races to Republicans’ 18, while 8 contests remained uncalled.
Democrats Flip Texas Governorship, Defeat Greg Abbott
Gina Hinojosa (D) defeated incumbent Greg Abbott (R) to win the Texas gubernatorial race, marking the first Democratic gubernatorial victory in the state since 1990.
Trump blamed Abbott for the defeat, calling him a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) in a Truth Social post.
Amy Acton Defeats Vivek Ramaswamy In Ohio
Amy Acton (D) defeated Vivek Ramaswamy (R) in the Ohio gubernatorial race. Ramaswamy acknowledged concerns about the country’s future during his election-night speech but said he hoped the U.S. would overcome its challenges, as it had throughout its history.
Democrats Score Senate Upset In South Carolina
Annie Andrews (D) defeated incumbent Darline Graham (R) to win South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, delivering another major setback to Republicans. Graham was appointed to the Senate seat following the unexpected death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, in July.
Andrews’ victory is particularly significant because Trump won South Carolina three times by double-digit margins.
Republicans Retain Tennessee Senate Seat, Virginia Elects Mark Warner
Bill Hagerty (R) defeated Marquita Bradshaw (D) to retain Tennessee’s U.S. Senate seat.
In Virginia, incumbent Mark Warner (D) defeated Bert Mizusawa (R) to secure a fourth Senate term.
Byron Donalds Wins Florida Governor’s Race
Byron Donalds (R) defeated David Jolly (D) to become Florida’s next governor, succeeding term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Florida has not elected a Democratic governor since 1994.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz Wins 12th House Term
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) defeated Brent Andersen (R) to win reelection in Florida’s 20th Congressional District.
The former Democratic National Committee chair secured her 12th term after switching congressional districts. She previously served in Florida’s House and Senate and is the first Jewish congresswoman elected from Florida.
Reid Hoffman Calls Election Results A Rejection Of Trump
LinkedIn co-founder and prominent Democratic donor Reid Hoffman described Tuesday’s results as an overwhelming rejection of Trump and his political allies.
In a series of posts on X, Hoffman said voters were demanding a different direction for the country, including an economy that benefits ordinary Americans and leaders who prioritize their constituents.
Hoffman also criticized the influence of wealthy political donors, specifically mentioning Elon Musk’s spending to support Republicans. He argued that Democrats must continue financially supporting candidates who defend American democratic ideals.
Dow futures fell 180 points, or 0.35%, to 51,715.00, while S&P 500 futures declined 41.50 points, or 0.55%, to 7,555.25 and Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 197 points, or 0.70%, to 28,108.75 as of 12:17 a.m. EST.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Dylan Hayes Photo / Shutterstock
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