The Democratic Party on Tuesday regained a majority in the House of Representatives for the first time in eight years, dealing a blow to U.S. President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election in the 2020 presidential election.
The Republican Party, meanwhile, retained its majority in the Senate in the midterm elections, resulting in a divided Congress, a development that allows Democrats to block Trump's legislative agenda and launch investigations into the administration after it convenes on Jan. 3.
Declaring a Democratic victory in the lower house, Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi said, "Thanks to you, tomorrow will be a new day in America."
"It will be a victory for our country, restoring checks and balances in our Constitution," Pelosi told cheering Democrats. "We'll have accountability and we will strive for bipartisanship with fairness on all sides."
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Pelosi's deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill wrote on Twitter that Trump called Pelosi late Tuesday night "to extend his congratulations on winning a Democratic House Majority."
Despite the GOP defeat in the House, Trump tweeted, "Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!"
NBC News projected Democrats would hold a 230-205 House majority. Other U.S. news organizations similarly estimated Democrats would capture at least the 23 GOP-held seats they needed to win a majority.
All 435 seats in the House, 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate, as well as 36 of the 50 state governorships were up for grabs.
During the campaign, Trump underscored his signature issues such as strong border security, tax cuts and deregulation.
Republicans hoped their efforts to focus voter attention on the strong economy, low unemployment rates and illegal immigration would prevent Democrats from gaining control of the House.
For their part, Democrats hoped that discontent with Trump -- whose approval rate stands at 40 percent versus a disapproval rate of 54 percent, according to the latest Gallup poll -- would send more people to the polls and give a boost to Democratic candidates.
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As major policy issues, Democrats defended former President Barack Obama's health care law and called for measures to raise minimum wages, ensure gun control and safeguard the rights of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Obama and other Democrats criticized Trump's hardline agenda and divisive persona, including his derogatory remarks about women and his anti-immigration rhetoric.
Reflecting the high level of interest in the elections, nearly 40 million voters cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, setting the stage for much-higher-than-usual turnout for a midterm, according to Michael McDonald, a University of Florida professor who tracks voter turnout.
