Special Midterm Election Report
Federal Level
Trump Says His Deportation Policy Might Be Too Tough
In a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday night, President Trump said his deportation policy “might be too tough” and that it hurt him in the midterm elections. Speaking with correspondent Ross Douthat at the White House on Friday, Trump said he would “love to do something on immigration” with the new Democratic majority, including a deal for longtime immigrant workers. He said he did not disagree with Vice President JD Vance’s view that the Iran war cost Republicans. Asked whether Democrats would impeach him again, Trump said, “I can’t imagine it.” He also said he still has confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.1, 2
Jeffries Is a Hard Yes on Hegseth Impeachment
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that he is “a hard yes” on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie plans to introduce the resolution, and Jeffries said Hegseth “abused his power” and “engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran.” Jeffries said House Democrats would discuss the measure Tuesday morning when they reconvene in Washington. He also said he has not spoken with President Trump since the election, though he has talked with former Presidents Obama, Biden and Clinton. He called Stephen Miller’s promotion to chief of staff “an awful choice.”3, 4
Trump Calls Midterm Results a Giant Step Back
President Trump posted on social media Sunday that the country “took a giant step back in History with the results of the last Election.” The post came as he headed to play golf, according to CBS News. Trump wrote that the stock market “took a one day, 3 Trillion Dollar loss,” and added, “But have no fear, we will be back, BIGGER AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s election. As of Sunday, the Associated Press counted 254 House seats for Democrats and 162 for Republicans, with 19 races still uncalled. Democrats now hold 54 Senate seats.5, 4
Hamilton Warns Democrats Against Endless Probes
Kansas Sen.-elect Adam Hamilton said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he would be “deeply disappointed” if he spent his first two years in the Senate investigating the Trump administration. Hamilton, the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas in 94 years, said voters most want help with the cost of living. He warned that if Democrats do not “get to work on helping people, this is going to be a one-and-done kind of blue wave.” Hamilton said he will not support Chuck Schumer as Senate leader. He said he wants a leader who can “lead from the center” and bring both parties together.6, 5
El-Sayed Says He Is Open to Meeting With Trump
Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed, who will be the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate, said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that he is willing to meet with President Trump to advance the goals he ran on. He said he has not received any outreach from the White House. El-Sayed criticized Trump’s choice of Stephen Miller as chief of staff and asked why the president would make that move if he wants a productive relationship with Congress. He said he wants a Senate leader who is “ready to take action on day one” and has not committed to supporting Chuck Schumer.3
State Level
Bottoms Says Georgia Is Now Safely a Blue State
Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that “it’s safe to say that we are a blue state” after Democrats won all 10 statewide races in Georgia. Bottoms also attended Sunday services at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once preached. Sen. Raphael Warnock, the church’s pastor, introduced her as “the great-great granddaughter of slaves.” Bottoms, the first Black woman elected governor in the nation, told the congregation, “God told me to go.” On ABC, she said she is open to working with the Trump White House but will push back when necessary.3, 7
Donalds Blames GOP Losses on Gas and Groceries
Florida Gov.-elect Byron Donalds, a Republican, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that his party’s midterm losses were “about gas and groceries.” Asked about Vice President JD Vance’s view that the Iran war cost Republicans, Donalds said the cause was “a little bit broader than that.” He said Republicans must refocus on the cost of living and predicted that health care will be “the next battle line in American politics.” Donalds, who will be Florida’s first Black governor, defended President Trump’s choice of Stephen Miller as chief of staff. He declined to say whom he would support for president in 2028.6, 4
Shapiro Predicts a Robust Primary Challenge to Fetterman
In a “Meet the Press” interview that aired Sunday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he expects “a robust primary challenge” to Democratic Sen. John Fetterman in 2028. Shapiro, who won reelection on Tuesday and helped Democrats win full control of state government, said “people are lining up to run.” He said Fetterman has “a lot of work to do” to earn back the trust of Pennsylvania voters. Shapiro, who spoke with NBC on Saturday, also called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “completely incompetent.” He did not say whether he will run for president, saying his focus is on governing Pennsylvania.6, 5
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Article Sources
1. CBS News, “60 Minutes Transcript: Donald Trump, the 2026 post-midterm elections interview,” Nov. 8, 2026.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-2026-post-midterm-elections-interview-60-minutes-transcript/
2. The Hollywood Reporter, “Trump Reflects on Republicans’ Midterm Losses, Reacts to J.D. Vance’s Own Analysis in ‘60 Minutes’ Interview,” Nov. 8, 2026.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/trump-republicans-midterm-losses-60-minutes-interview-1236750685/
3. ABC News, “’This Week’ Transcript 11-8-26: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed & Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms,” Nov. 8, 2026.
https://abcnews.com/Politics/week-transcript-11-8-26-house-democratic-leader/story?id=137944448
4. Yahoo News, “Midterms 2026 results and latest updates: House could vote to impeach Hegseth this week,” Nov. 8, 2026.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/live/midterms-2026-election-results-and-latest-updates-mississippi-votes-still-being-counted-in-senate-nail-biter-after-democrats-take-control-of-congress-200037541.html
5. CBS News, “2026 midterm election live updates as Trump says U.S. took a ‘giant step back in history’,” Nov. 8, 2026.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/midterm-election-results-2026-democrats-house-senate-trump/
6. NBC News, “Meet the Press - November 8, 2026,” Nov. 8, 2026.
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/transcripts/meet-press-november-8-2026-rcna608110
7. WSB-TV, “’God told me to go’: Governor-elect Bottoms speaks at historic Ebenezer Baptist,” Nov. 8, 2026.
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/georgia-election-2026-governor-elect-bottoms-speaks-historic-atlanta-church/HK4Z7JD7UBDSHDHK663RIYIKBU/?outputType=amp