Democrats win control of Congress in US midterm elections

Democrats won control of Congress in the US midterm elections on Tuesday, after voters turned against President Donald Trump's policies at the ballot box. Republicans suffered heavy losses across the country.

Democrats defeated incumbent Republicans for Senate seats in Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. These were states long seen as conservative strongholds. Democrats also flipped a number of House districts that Republicans had held.

Several candidates endorsed by Trump lost their races. Some of these seats were once viewed as secure for the Republican Party.

Economic problems and the escalating situation in Iran played a major part in how people voted.

The result is a rare setback for a sitting Republican president. Historically, a president's party often loses seats in midterm elections, but a loss of both houses of Congress is unusual. The last time a Republican president lost both houses was 20 years ago.

A Democratic-controlled Congress can change the direction of US trade, tariff and immigration policy. Those decisions affect Indian businesses, students and professionals who depend on US rules. The new Congress will shape how Washington handles these issues in the coming months.

What happens next depends on how Congress uses its new majority, and on the White House's response. Final vote tallies and the full list of winners in close races have not yet been fully counted.