Democrats Win Control of Congress in US Midterm Elections

US voters handed Democrats control of both the House and Senate in a clear rebuke of President Donald Trump, with the party projected to win at least 248 House seats and 51 Senate seats. For Jamaicans and the Caribbean, victories by candidates with Jamaican roots included Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Florida Governor Byron Daniels, and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

Byron Donalds, who has Jamaican heritage through his mother, won Florida’s governor’s race, defeating Democrat David Jolly and becoming the state’s first Black governor. Backed by President Donald Trump, he campaigned on lowering taxes, improving health care and education, and cutting bureaucracy to boost the Florida economy.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor, won Georgia’s governor’s race, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in any U.S. state and ending more than 20 years of Republican control there. Her victory, over Republican Rick Jackson, is a setback for Donald Trump and underscores Georgia’s importance as a swing state.

Jon Ossoff won reelection to the US Senate in Georgia, strengthening his standing as a rising Democratic figure and renewing speculation about a possible 2028 presidential bid. The 39-year-old defeated Republican Mike Collins in a state Donald Trump carried in 2024, as supporters praised his youth, authenticity and sharp attacks on Trump.

Democrats won early Senate races in North Carolina and Georgia, with Roy Cooper defeating Trump-backed Michael Whatley and Jon Ossoff securing reelection. The results bolstered Democratic hopes of taking Congress in a midterm seen as a referendum on Trump, whose agenda could face major checks if Republicans lose the House or Senate.

Jamaican-American leaders say today’s US midterm elections could shape American democracy and have major effects on Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, especially on immigration, trade, aid, security and remittances. Several candidates of Jamaican heritage are on the ballot, including Yvette Clarke, Wes Moore and Byron Daniels, while community leaders are urging strong voter turnout.