Democrats win House and Senate in US midterms, count continues
Democrats have taken control of both the House and the Senate in Tuesday's US midterm elections. Anadolu Agency reported the party had 253 House seats and 54 Senate seats with its allies, with 25 House races uncalled.
- Democrats won both the House and the Senate on 3 November.
- Anadolu reported 253 House seats and 54 Senate seats for the party and allied independents.
- Trump said the Iran war likely played a part in the defeat.
- Gulf states hope the result will lead to an end to the conflict.
Democrats won control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, leaving President Donald Trump facing a hostile Congress for the remaining two years of his term, according to France 24.
Anadolu Agency reported on Friday that the Democrats had expanded their House majority to 253 seats, while the party and allied independents had secured 54 Senate seats. Twenty-five House races had not yet been called. The Guardian's live coverage said Democrats had passed 250 House seats.
The Independent reported that Democrats won in Republican strongholds such as Texas and Kansas. It said James Talarico was elected senator and Gina Hinojosa governor in Texas. Florida is the only one of the 10 largest states by population that remains a Republican stronghold, the paper said.
Trump told Fox News that voters were unwilling to accept the impact of the war with Iran on gas prices. Speaking to media, he said: "I think a part of it was Iran, but, at the same time, people understood the importance of what I've done with Iran". DW reported that he also said he was in no rush to start bombing Iran again.
DW reported that the newly elected Democratic politicians will not take their seats until early next year. It said Gulf states, which have been the main targets of Iranian attacks since the conflict began, see reason for optimism after the vote. Anwar Gargash said at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain: "We find ourselves drawn within a crisis that we worked diplomatically very hard to try to avert".
According to the Independent, 66 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 backed a Democratic candidate in House races, against 31 percent who voted Republican. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez kept her New York seat with 78 percent of the vote.
France 24 said Republicans now face questions about how to win back voters and who will lead the party, with the next presidential election two years away. DW Urdu reported that Pakistan's leadership, which spent two years building ties with Trump, is now looking for ways to reach the White House.
Background
khabr.pk reported on 4 November that Democrats had won both houses of Congress and that Trump said he would accept the results. On 5 November it reported that Democratic leaders plan to push bills on living costs and tariffs and to investigate Trump when they take control in January.
Why it matters for Pakistan
A change in control of Congress can shape Washington's policies toward Pakistan and the region. DW Urdu reported that Pakistan's leadership is now seeking routes to the White House. Fuel prices matter to households here: khabr.pk recorded petrol at Rs352.59 a litre and diesel at Rs382.25 on 5 November. DW reported that Saudi Arabia has joined a defence pact with Pakistan and Turkey, and the Gulf is directly affected by the Iran conflict.
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