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Republicans reeled after defeats, fearing President Trump’s low approval would weigh on midterms. As blame ricocheted, they faulted flawed candidates, a government shutdown, a focus on demonizing transgender issues, and a weak economic pitch; Speaker Mike Johnson cast Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City and a democratic socialist, as the new leader of the Democratic Party. No one blamed Trump, who loomed but did little: no fundraisers or rallies, only phoned-in calls to New Jersey and Virginia, and an endorsement that omitted Winsome Earle-Sears’s name. Democrats surged to the polls as Republicans struggled to rouse MAGA base.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.