US Democrats take House of Representatives but Republicans retain Senate in mid-term elections
Video report by ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore
The Democrats have gained control of the House of Representatives in the US mid-term elections, dealing a blow to Donald Trump's legislative agenda.
But the Republican Party looks set to increase its majority in the Senate, providing some vindication for the president and his policies.
Mr Trump described the election as a "tremendous success" but he may face a difficult ride over the next two years.
That ride began almost immediately as US attorney general Jeff Sessions resigned on Tuesday as the country’s chief law enforcement officer.
Mr Sessions announced his resignation in a letter to President Donald Trump and said it came at “your request”.
ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore said the president had been sent "a distinctly mixed message by voters" but the Senate results would be a "huge disappointment" for the Democrats.
Democrats had hoped for a "blue wave" to sweep them back into control of both houses of Congress, but in losing key Senate races in Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, North Dakota and Texas any hope of re-taking the upper chamber vanished.
And while they look set to comfortably pick up more than the 23 seats they need to get a majority in the House, where all 435 seats were voted on, Republicans will build on their 51-49 majority in the Senate.
A record number of women have been elected to the House, including the first two female Muslim representatives and the youngest ever women.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is in line to become the next House speaker, called for unity as she told supporters: “Tomorrow will be a new day in America."
Speaking after the results had been announced, Mr Trump said that the Republican Party had "defied" history.
The president said the party had "dramatically outperformed historical precedents", arguing that his record bettered Barack Obama's at the mid-terms.
Mr Trump added that if the Democrat-majority House now decided to flood him with subpoenas then "we're going to do the same thing".
Republicans win close battles
The Republicans maintained their strength in conservative, rural states, while Democrats made inroads across America’s suburbs.
Many GOP candidates who Mr Trump personally backed and appeared at rallies alongside were victorious, results which analysts predict the president will see as vindication for his approach to issues like immigration.
In Florida, Trump-backed Republican Ron DeSantis ended Democrat Andrew Gillum’s bid to become the state’s first African-American governor.
“I want to encourage you to stick to the fight,” said Mr Gillum, who was thought to be a rising star with national ambitions.
In Indiana, Trump-backed businessman Mike Braun defeated Democratic incumbent Senator Joe Donnelly. In Missouri, Josh Hawley knocked off Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill. And in the Tennessee Senate race, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn defeated former Governor Phil Bredesen, a top Democratic recruit.
In Texas, Ted Cruz staved off a tough challenge from Democrat Beto O’Rourke, whose record-smashing fundraising and celebrity have set off buzz he could be a credible 2020 White House contender.
In his victory speech, Cruz said his win affirmed that he won the "battle of ideas" against O'Rourke over issues like low taxes, reduced regulation and jobs.
"All the money in the world wasn't a match for the good people of Texas," he said, while also acknowledging that millions of people across the state were inspired by O'Rourke's campaign.
What now for the Democrats?
Despite their somewhat disappointing results in the Senate, Democrats could derail Trump’s legislative agenda for the next two years with control of the House and they would claim subpoena power to investigate Mr Trump’s personal and professional shortcomings.
Some Democrats have already vowed to force the release of his tax returns. Others have pledged to pursue impeachment, although removal from office is unlikely so long as the Republicans control the Senate.
The road to a House majority ran through two dozen suburban districts Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Democrats flipped seats in suburban districts outside Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago and Denver.
Two Democrats became the youngest women ever elected to the House.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Abby Finkenauer, both 29, were elected in New York and Iowa respectively.
The results were more mixed deeper into Trump country.
In Kansas, Democrat Sharice Davids beat a Republican incumbent to become the first Native American and gay woman elected to the House.
But in Kentucky, one of the top Democratic recruits, retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath lost her bid to oust Andy Barr.
So was it a good or bad night for the president?
Mr Trump sought to take credit for retaining the Republicans’ Senate majority, even as the party’s foothold in the more competitive House battlefield appeared to be slipping.
“Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” he tweeted.
History was working against the president in the Senate: 2002 was the only midterm election in the past three decades when the party holding the White House gained Senate seats.
Yet Mr Trump’s party will maintain Senate control for the next two years, at least.
Analysis by ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore
President Trump will portray this as a personal victory given his effort on the campaign trail over recent weeks.
There will be dismay among Democrats that Beto O’Rourke - the charismatic young challenger - narrowly lost to Ted Cruz in the Texas Senate race.
Florida played its traditional role of being excruciatingly close. In both the Senate and the Governor’s race it has been neck and neck in the state, with Republicans exceeding expectations.
So what next for this roller-coaster presidency? Donald Trump now faces brutal trench warfare that will make his first two years seem like a serene picnic.