Democrats win House majority in US midterms, gaining 44 seats

Democrats have won control of the US House of Representatives in last week's midterm elections, in a heavy defeat for Republicans. The Independent reported that Democrats needed to flip only three seats for a majority and picked up 44.

As of that report, 254 Democrats and 164 Republicans had been elected to the House, with more votes still being counted. Democrats also won Senate races in Republican-leaning states including Texas, Iowa and Kansas.

House Speaker Mike Johnson reacted on Capitol Hill on Monday. "I'm sorry that the voters made the wrong choice," he said. He also called Democratic control of Congress a great tragedy.

Johnson said: "I really do believe that these next two years are going to be a bit of a circus. It's going to be chaos, and I hate to say that, but I think that's where Democrats are going to lead the House."

Asked by CNN's Manu Raju whether President Donald Trump needs to correct course, Johnson said: "I'm not going to tell the president how to do his job."

In governors' races, Gina Hinojosa became the first Latina elected governor of Texas, and Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected governor of Georgia, the first Black woman governor in US history.

ABC News Voter Polls found that 75 percent of House voters rated the economy as poor or not so good. Sixty-three percent said the US made the wrong decision in taking military action against Iran. On immigration, 43 percent said Republicans handle it better and 41 percent said Democrats.

Trump has replaced chief of staff Susie Wiles with her deputy, Stephen Miller, and admitted his crackdown on illegal migrants in the first two years of his second term was too tough. Separately, Nikkei Asia reported that incoming House Democrats are weighing whether to disband or reshape the select committee on China. Some are considering using it to investigate Trump's dealings with China, according to sources, and Ro Khanna is expected to chair it if it is kept.