Democrats won the House and Senate in a midterm election marked by Senate flips and historic victories in several states. Economic concerns and the war on Iran figured in voters’ decisions and Trump’s response.
News Mash
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente has resigned after a high-speed train collision killed at least 69 people. Recordings described by the BBC raise questions about instructions given to the trains before the crash.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. The campaign centered on affordability, health care, Israel and attacks on El-Sayed’s faith.
South Africans are voting for local councils as polls point to further losses for the ANC. Frustration over water, electricity and other municipal services is shaping key contests, including Johannesburg.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says four tankers were destroyed by mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that remains unverified. The United States has confirmed a strike near the waterway as talks over reopening it continue.
Democrats have secured the 218 seats needed to control the House, flipping Republican-held districts in four states. The party plans to use its new committee and subpoena powers to investigate the Trump administration.
Democrat Brian Poindexter defeats Rep. Max Miller in an Ohio district that had appeared safely Republican. Allegations of domestic abuse, which Miller denies, became a central issue in the race.
Democrats won governorships in Texas, Georgia, Iowa and Ohio. David Crowley won in Wisconsin, while NBC News identified Arizona, Nevada and Michigan as states with tight races early Wednesday.