Democrats Win House and Senate; Trump Cites No Regrets on Iran Policy
A midterm result in which one party gains both chambers typically reshapes the legislative agenda for the final two years of a presidential term, though the scope of that shift depends on margin...
Democrats have won both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, according to projections by CBS News reported on November 5, 2026. The CBS News projection was the basis for President Trump's public response, in which he stated he had no regrets regarding his administration's military engagement with Iran.
President Trump's comments came in a televised appearance reported by CBS News on November 5, 2026. The president addressed the election outcome directly and connected it to his Iran policy, though he did not indicate any change in that policy direction as a result of the midterm losses.
The precise seat margins in both chambers had not been confirmed in full as of the time of this report. Final seat counts for the House and Senate will be established as remaining races are called by news organizations and certified by state election authorities. Those certifications are the public records that will determine the precise size of each party's majority or minority.
DNC Vice Chair Shasti Conrad appeared on CBS News program "The Takeout" to respond to the results, describing the wins as significant for the party's direction. Conrad did not specify a numerical seat count in her public remarks, according to the CBS News interview. The DNC has not released a written statement with specific seat projections as of the time of publication.
For historical context, the party opposing a sitting president has gained House seats in 36 of 46 midterm election cycles since 1862, according to data maintained by the U.S. House of Representatives Office of the Historian. Senate midterm outcomes are less consistent, with the presidential party losing Senate seats in roughly half of modern midterm cycles.
If the Democratic gains hold through certification, the party would hold subpoena power in both chambers, with the ability to advance or block legislation, confirm or reject executive and judicial nominations, and conduct oversight investigations. Under House rules, committee chairmanships transfer to the majority party, which affects the scheduling and scope of all committee proceedings.
The Iran engagement referenced by President Trump has not been defined in full public detail as of the time of this report. No formal declaration of war has been recorded in the Congressional Record. Any authorization of force or supplemental military appropriation tied to the Iran conflict would appear in congressional records and Defense Department budget justification documents, neither of which have been cited in connection with these statements as of publication.
The policy consequences of a divided government shifting to unified Democratic control of Congress depend on what legislation reaches the floor, what the Senate filibuster threshold allows, and whether the new majority can sustain 60 votes for cloture on key measures. The current Senate standing rules require 60 votes to end debate on most legislation. Whether the incoming Democratic majority would have or seek that threshold is not yet established, as final seat counts remain incomplete.
For coverage of related 2026 midterm outcomes including governor races and ballot measures, see the 2026 Midterm Results Leave Ukraine Aid Future Uncertain Despite Democratic Gains report published earlier in this cycle.
What remains unknown is the final certified seat count in both the House and the Senate, the specific nature and legal authorization of the administration's Iran military engagement, and whether the new congressional majority intends to bring any Iran-related authorization or oversight to the floor. Those facts will be established through state election certifications, the Congressional Record, and Defense Department disclosures.