Republicans have lost their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to projections reported by CNN and NBC News based on vote counts and voter surveys. Democrats are set to take control of the chamber, a setback for President Donald Trump that is likely to make governing more difficult. The outcome in the Senate remains uncertain, although Democrats have made early gains there as well.

The new Congress is due to convene in January. With control of the House, Democrats will be able to launch investigations into matters including the Trump family’s business activities, the conduct of officials during immigration raids, and the president’s renovation and construction projects in Washington.

Democrats will also be able to block Republican legislation in the House. Because bills must pass both chambers in identical form, the shift gives them leverage over the president’s legislative priorities, including budget measures. Disagreements over government funding could lead to further budget disputes and, if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement in time, government shutdowns.

House investigations could, in the most serious scenario, provide grounds for another impeachment proceeding. The House can impeach a president by a simple majority, but removing Trump from office would require at least 67 votes in the 100-member Senate. Democrats would need Republican support to reach that threshold even if they win a narrow Senate majority. Trump was acquitted in both impeachment trials brought against him during his first term.

The loss comes as Trump’s approval ratings have been weak. A recent New York Times and Siena poll put his approval among registered voters at 34 percent. The midterm elections, held halfway between presidential elections, are often a setback for the party of the sitting president; Republicans also lost control of the House during Trump’s first term in 2018.

Trump was not on the ballot, but he made himself a central figure in the Republican campaign, traveling between states to rally supporters. Voters’ concerns included high living costs and rising fuel prices, which had increased after the war with Iran began in late February. The conflict, launched by the United States and Israel, had not ended eight months later, despite Trump’s initial assurances that the operation would last only a few weeks.

Sources: Handelsblatt.