Democrats Reclaim House Majority as Trump Approval Plummets
Democrats seize control of the House in a historic wave as Trump approval hits record lows. See key race results and leadership shifts.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Democrats have captured the majority in the House of Representatives, securing a decisive victory that comes as Donald Trump’s approval ratings hit a historic low. The results suggest a significant shift in the political landscape, with the party flipping dozens of Republican seats despite aggressive redistricting efforts by GOP state legislatures.
In Tennessee, Republican Brent Taylor was projected to win the 9th District, defeating the former incumbent Democrat Justin Pearson. The seat was previously held by Steve Cohen, who announced his retirement following recent changes to the district boundaries.
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In Washington, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez secured a third term in the 3rd District. Her victory is particularly notable given that Trump has won that rural area three times, and Gluesenkamp Perez has been known for maintaining independence from party leadership. She defeated Republican State Senator John Braun, who, despite a Trump endorsement, had distanced himself from the president on issues like tariffs and the 2020 election results.
Arizona’s 1st District saw a Democratic gain as Amish Shah won over Republican Jay Feely. The seat was previously held by eight-term GOP incumbent David Schweikert, who recently lost a bid for governor. Shah, a physician and former state legislator, had won his primary in July despite the national Democratic party backing his general election opponent, Marlene Galán-Woods.
North Carolina saw a major shift with Democratic wins in the 6th, 13th, and 14th Districts. Cyril Jefferson defeated Addison McDowell, Paul Barringer toppled Brad Knott, and Lakesha Womack beat Tim Moore. In the 1st District, Democrat Don Davis won a rematch against Laurie Buckhout, maintaining his seat after multiple rounds of Republican-led gerrymandering.
Other notable flips include Shannon Taylor defeating Rob Wittman in Virginia’s 1st District, ending a Republican hold that had lasted since 1977. In Montana, Democrat Sam Forstag won the 1st District against Aaron Flint, marking the first time a Democrat has represented the area in over three decades following the retirement of Republican Ryan Zinke.
Following the victory, Democratic leadership battles are already intensifying. Representative Joe Neguse of Colorado has announced his bid for Assistant Speaker. In a letter to his colleagues, Neguse emphasized the need for a unified caucus in the 120th Congress to focus on lowering costs and supporting working families.
Competition is expected within the leadership hierarchy, as both Neguse and Ted Lieu are vying for the No. 4 spot. Neguse currently holds the No. 5 position, while Lieu is vice chair. Meanwhile, Pete Aguilar is running for the position of Whip, and Katherine Clark is seeking the House Leader role.
On the Republican side, Erin Houchin is challenging Lisa McClain for the conference chair position. In a statement, McClain argued that the party must go offensive rather than wait for political winds to shift. Republican leader Steve Scalise also confirmed he will run for minority leader, noting that the results were worse than anticipated.
Hakeem Jeffries has officially launched his candidacy for Speaker. His proposed agenda includes reversing recent cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, extending expired Affordable Act tax credits, and rolling back presidential tariffs. Jeffries stated the goal is to find bipartisan ground to lower the high cost of living.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
