Democrats lock in wide majorities in both chambers
Democrats will hold at least 54 Senate seats and a wide House majority after Tuesday's midterms, with Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi still undecided.
Developing story. Details may change as more information is confirmed.
A day after the midterm elections, the size of the Democratic victory came into sharper focus. Democrats will control the Senate with at least 54 seats to the Republicans' 44, and they gained dozens of seats in the House of Representatives, giving them a wide majority there as well.
Two Senate races, in Alaska and Mississippi, were still too close to call on Wednesday. If Democrats were to win both, their majority would grow to 56 seats. Several House races were also still being counted.
Democratic leaders said they would use their new power to act as a check on President Donald Trump, setting up the possibility of two years of gridlock in Washington. With control of every committee, Democrats will be able to hold hearings, issue subpoenas and shape spending bills when the new Congress meets in January.
Voters told pollsters that high prices, the war with Iran and concerns about corruption were among their top worries. The war, which began in February, has pushed up fuel prices around the world.
Democrats are also expected to push to limit the president's war powers and to propose new aid for Ukraine, though Trump could veto such measures unless they win support from two-thirds of both chambers.
It will be the first time Trump has faced a Congress fully controlled by Democrats. This is a developing story as the final races are counted.
This summary is original reporting by tehworldnews, written after checking the facts against several major international news outlets and official statements.