Democrats have won control of the US House of Representatives, according to election projections, giving them the power to investigate Donald Trump’s administration and family businesses even as the president retains the ability to block their legislative agenda.
The party needed a net gain of three seats and secured victories in Republican-held suburban and swing districts. Democrats also held three Florida seats that Republicans had redrawn in an attempt to capture.
Among the key gains were New Jersey’s 7th District, where former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett defeated Republican representative Tom Kean Jr, and Virginia’s 2nd, which former congresswoman Elaine Luria won from Republican Jen Kiggans.
Democrat Manny Rutinel also flipped Colorado’s 8th District, while Jamie Ager defeated Republican Jennifer Balkcom in North Carolina’s newly redrawn 11th.
With several races still being called, NBC’s Decision Desk estimated that Democrats would finish with about 248 seats, a 61-seat majority. CNBC’s election desk projected at least 235 seats.
Mr Trump, who had urged supporters to treat the midterm elections as a referendum on his presidency, rejected the result’s significance, writing on Truth Social: “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!”
Democrats prepare House investigations
Robert Garcia, the California Democrat expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, marked the victory with a two-word message: “Lawyer up.”
His office said the committee would investigate what it called the “Trump Crime Family”, as well as corporate corruption, alleged abuses at the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the handling of the Epstein files.
Control of the committee will allow Democrats to compel documents and testimony from government officials, private companies and individuals. Mr Garcia has said subpoenas could be issued to administration officials, including acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, on “day one” of the new Democratic majority.
He has identified the Trump family’s cryptocurrency ventures as a particular area of scrutiny. The committee is expected to examine the family’s crypto deals, Donald Trump Jr’s business interests and the involvement of family members including Jared Kushner in company boards and contracts.
Mr Garcia has also promised “quick action” over alleged pay-to-play arrangements involving former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski. The claims have not been established.
Trump family businesses in focus
World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s cryptocurrency company, is likely to be among the first targets. Democrats have focused on an Emirati royal known as the “Spy Sheikh”, who bought a $500 million stake in the business last year, while the company seeks a national bank charter requiring approval from a Treasury Department arm.
House Democrats had already asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to investigate the deal. Their control of the chamber will give them greater powers to pursue the matter.
They have also said they will examine Mr Trump’s pardon of a Binance co-founder who helped the family launch a stablecoin. Mr Garcia has asked the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate whether companies that brought Eric Trump or Donald Trump Jr on to their payrolls or into ownership positions were subsequently rewarded with defence contracts.
Oversight Democrats say those companies have received more than $725 million in loans, grants and awards since Mr Trump took office.
The inquiry could extend beyond companies directly run by the Trump family, with corporate donors to the White House ballroom project and businesses that struck deals with family members expected to face scrutiny. Democrats have said investigations could begin as early as February and that private entities with links to Mr Trump may be subpoenaed if the White House resists.
The White House has dismissed the plans. Spokeswoman Lauren Bis said before election day that Democrats’ “only agenda is to continue their decade long witch hunt against President Trump”.
Limited power over legislation
Although Democrats will be able to pass bills through the House with a simple majority, those measures would still require approval from the Senate and Mr Trump’s signature. The president has threatened to “veto everything” if Democrats win control of Congress, while overriding a veto requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
That is expected to limit what incoming House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries can achieve on priorities including reversing Mr Trump’s Medicaid cuts, extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, restoring Congress’s authority over tariffs and ending the war with Iran.
Democrats will, however, be able to block the president’s proposals, including spending bills, giving them significant leverage in budget negotiations over the next two years.
