With control settled, Republicans turned to recrimination. The AP Voter Poll framed the loss as punishment over prices, tariffs and inflation, while party figures cited the Iran war and Secretary Hegseth. Vance moved to distance himself from Trump, who defended Hegseth against resignation-or-impeachment demands.
Democrats quantified the sweep, with CNN projecting more than 250 House seats, the largest majority since 2008, as Alaska and Mississippi remained undecided. Leadership outlined reversals of health cuts and tariffs, Pentagon oversight and probes the White House said it had prepared for. DOJ civil rights chief Harmeet Dhillon resigned in the first post-midterm departure.
Wall Street sold off sharply, the Dow falling nearly 1,800 points, attributed to AI-regulation fears. Trump blamed Democrats for the drop while spending the day on White House beautification, designating the Oval Office a national monument.