Democrats head for more than 230 House seats as prices drive the vote

Democrats are on course to win more than 230 seats in the House of Representatives, with votes still being counted across the US on Wednesday, adding to a night in which the party took control of both chambers of Congress.

In the Senate, Democrats have flipped at least six Republican seats, among them Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina, Texas and South Carolina, while Jon Ossoff held Georgia. Going into the vote, Republicans held 218 House seats against 214 for the Democrats.

Prices on voters’ minds

The economy decided much of the vote. About 4 in 10 voters named it as their most important issue, according to AP polling, and most of them pointed to high petrol and grocery prices, which climbed after the US launched a war on Iran in February.

Ossoff spoke to that mood in Atlanta on election night. “Let tonight’s results give you courage that the first light of dawn is on the horizon,” he told supporters.

Republicans look for blame

Among Republicans, the search for someone to blame has begun. One Republican source pointed at Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been the face of the Iran war. “He cost us this election,” the source said.

Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader in line to become Speaker in January, has promised that his party will deliver dramatic change once it takes over.

Several House races and Alaska’s Senate contest between Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola were still being counted on Wednesday afternoon in India, so the final size of the Democratic majorities is not yet known. The new Congress meets in January.