Vance blames Iran war for GOP losses

Vice President JD Vance told supporters that the war in Iran caused the Republican Party’s loss of control of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections. He wrote in a lengthy online post that the reason the party lost was the war. Vance said that if people wanted to argue the conflict was worth the cost of losing the Senate for the next six years, they should do so. He called that stance at least honest.

Democrats won at least seven Senate seats in states that had previously voted heavily for Republicans. The party took Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Democrats also kept their seats in Georgia and Michigan. In the House of Representatives, Democrats flipped more than two dozen districts. Some of those districts voted for President Donald Trump by double digits in the 2024 election.

Four Democratic candidates won gubernatorial races in states held by Republicans for decades. Keisha Lance Bottoms won in Georgia. Amy Acton won in Ohio. Rob Sand won in Iowa. Gina Hinojosa won in Texas. These victories give Democrats the power to block the president’s legislative agenda and reject his appointees.

President Trump told voters to pretend he was on the ballot during the campaign. After the results came in, he blamed his candidates and said Democrats did a good job in their campaigns. The AP Voter Poll indicated that most voters blamed his administration for high costs and wanted Congress to impose more checks on his power.

Senate candidate James Talarico told a crowd in Austin that Texas voters were his slingshot. He compared the campaign to the biblical story of David and Goliath, noting that David did not have as many weapons but had faith. Talarico said the people of Texas defeated Goliath. He added that a politics of division could not beat a politics of love.

Senate candidate Jon Ossoff raised more than $100 million in his reelection bid in Georgia. He became a staple of social media feeds during the campaign. Ossoff said the American people rebuked the corruption of President Trump. He said the task is to heal the brokenness beneath the current administration.

Republican Sen. Steve Scalise will seek the position of House Minority Leader. A person familiar with the plans said Scalise will run after Speaker Mike Johnson decided not to stay on as leader. Scalise represents Louisiana and currently serves as House Majority Leader. He is likely to face Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who is also interested in the position. Republicans are expected to hold their internal party elections next week.

Democrats claim victory in tight races in Kansas for governor and attorney general. State Sen. Cindy Holscher issued a statement calling herself governor-elect. Her Republican opponent, Ty Masterson, has not conceded. The AP has not called the race. Holscher has a lead of less than a percentage point. The AP will only declare a winner when the remaining votes are counted.