Washington: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Republicans would have won a landslide victory in the midterm elections if he had been on the ballot, as his party suffered major setbacks and Democrats moved closer to taking control of Congress.

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"I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday.

The statement came after Democrats registered significant victories in key battleground states, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and New Hampshire. The results have put Republicans under pressure midway through Trump's second presidential term.

Democrats are also marching towards a majority in the House of Representatives after defeating six Republican candidates in closely contested races.

One of the biggest setbacks for Trump-backed Republicans came in South Carolina, where Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham in an upset victory.

Graham had received Trump's backing after being appointed to the Senate in July following the unexpected death of her brother, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Andrews, a doctor, will become the first woman elected to the US Senate from South Carolina. Her victory also marks the first time in more than two decades that a Democrat has won a Senate seat in the traditionally Republican state.

Democrats also flipped a Senate seat in North Carolina, where former Governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley.

In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff secured re-election by defeating Republican Congressman Mike Collins. Democrat Chris Pappas also won the New Hampshire Senate race, defeating former Senator John Sununu.

Several other Democratic senators, including Cory Booker in New Jersey, Ed Markey in Massachusetts and John Hickenlooper in Colorado, retained their seats.

Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate, while three additional seats would give them a majority in the House.
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'MAGA extremists are on the run': Jeffries

The Democratic victories prompted a sharp response from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who said Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement was losing ground across the country.

"MAGA extremists are on the run from sea to shining sea. Donald Trump is shook right now," Jeffries said in a video posted on Facebook.

Democrats are projected to win a majority in the House, putting Jeffries in line to become the next Speaker. If elected, he would make history as the first Black person to hold the position.

Jeffries has outlined a 100-day agenda focusing on reducing the cost of living and increasing congressional scrutiny of the Trump administration.

Inflation, cost of living weigh on Republicans

The election results come amid widespread dissatisfaction among American voters over the economy and the country's direction.

High prices, inflation, the war in Iran and concerns over government corruption featured prominently among the issues influencing voters.

According to the Associated Press Voter Poll cited in its coverage, around three-quarters of voters described the economy as either not very good or poor. About eight in 10 said inflation had caused moderate or severe financial hardship for their households.

Government corruption and the cost of living were each considered crucial voting issues by roughly half of the electorate. Around six in 10 voters also said Trump prioritised his personal interests over those of the country.

Trump had campaigned extensively for Republican candidates before the elections, visiting states including Kansas, Mississippi and South Carolina. He had urged supporters to vote as though his name were on the ballot.

On Tuesday, he also told Fox News Channel that "inflation is solved", despite consumer prices rising 3.6 per cent in September compared with the same month last year, according to the Commerce Department figures.
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What the results mean for Trump's presidency

The midterm elections will determine the balance of power in Congress during the final two years of Trump's second term.

Republican control of both chambers had helped the President advance much of his legislative agenda. A Democratic majority in either chamber would give the opposition greater powers to investigate the administration and scrutinise its policies.

The Democrats have indicated that lowering living costs and increasing oversight of the Trump administration will be central to their agenda if they take control of the House.

A strong Democratic performance could also influence the party's prospects ahead of the next presidential election, while complicating the political ambitions of Vice President JD Vance and other Republicans seeking to build their standing within the party.

The results are still being counted in several states, but the early Democratic gains have already put Trump's party on the defensive.