WASHINGTON, DC - Democrats seized control of both the Senate and House at the US midterms on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations.

Many analysts had predicted a "blue wave" would sweep the elections, but that is now "heading into tsunami territory", says FRANCE 24's international affairs editor Kethevane Gorjestani.

Democrat Deb Haaland becomes first Native American female governor

Democrat Deb Haaland reveled in her history-making moment of becoming the first Native American female governor in US history. Haaland was declared the winner over Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor, to lead New Mexico.

The Laguna Pueblo citizen noted that Native Americans are still here despite past efforts by the federal government to strip them of their languages and culture.

"Tonight, in our nation's 250th year, I stand before you as the first Native American woman elected governor in US history," Haaland told ecstatic supporters at a victory celebration.

In 2018, Haaland was one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. Then she became the first Native American Cabinet secretary, running President Joe Biden's Department of the Interior. Charles Curtis, from the Kaw Nation, was the first Native Cabinet member as President Herbert Hoover's vice president.

Voters back abortion rights and reject Trump's redistricting in state ballot measures

Abortion-rights advocates notched victories in Missouri and Virginia on Tuesday, and voters delivered a double dose of disapproval to President Donald Trump's redistricting efforts as they decided 145 ballot questions in more than three dozen states.

Some measures put Trump's priorities to a public test by gauging support for his attempts to redraw congressional districts, limit transgender athletes in sports and strengthen voter identification requirements.

'We did it!': Democrat El-Sayed hails US Senate win amid blue 'tsunami'

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's US Senate race over former Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers, US networks said early Wednesday, making him the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress.

"Michigan, we did it!" El-Sayed said in a speech attended by hundreds of supporters who screamed and hugged each other at his election headquarters in Detroit. 

"I am so proud and honored to stand here as your senator-elect from the great state of Michigan."

Talarico says 'power belongs to the people' as Democrats win big in Texas

Democrat James Talarico flipped a US Senate seat in Texas on Tuesday, defeating Republican Ken Paxton to pull off the first statewide victory in more than 30 years and sending a jolt through a longtime GOP stronghold that President Donald Trump carried by double digits just two years ago.

In another political earthquake for the southern border state, Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated incumbent Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

'America is big enough for all of us,' El-Sayed says in Senate victory speech

⁠Democrat Abdul El-Sayed ​won Michigan's open US Senate seat on Tuesday, according to media projections, becoming ​the first Muslim elected to the chamber while preserving a crucial Democratic seat in the party's fight for Senate control.

El-Sayed's victory in the closely ​contested ‌election marked a breakthrough for the Democratic Party's ⁠progressive wing and denied Republicans a chance to flip the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.

El-Sayed, ‌42, a former public health official, focused on lowering costs ⁠for working families and reducing corporate influence in politics. His platform included Medicare for All, a government-funded universal healthcare program ​championed by progressives in his party.

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries poised to make history as the first Black speaker of the House

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is on the cusp of making history as the nation's first Black speaker of the House, a generational shift in US politics after Democrats trounced Republicans to win majority control of the chamber in the midterm elections.

Jeffries faces a vote of his colleagues when the new Congress convenes January 3. If nominated and elected, as expected, it would be the first time a Black lawmaker has grasped the powerful House speaker's gavel, a job second in line to the president and the only leadership position in Congress mandated by the US Constitution.