‘Voters made the wrong choice’: Mike Johnson warns of ‘chaos’ as Democrats take House majority

WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday, November 9, criticised voters for making the “wrong choice” after Republicans suffered sweeping losses in last week’s midterm elections, handing Democrats control of the House.

Speaking to CNN’s Manu Raju on Capitol Hill, Johnson defended President Donald Trump’s record and warned that the next two years under a Democratic-led House would be marked by “chaos.”

Democrats picked up 44 House seats in the 2026 midterm elections, far exceeding the number needed to take control of the chamber.

Mike Johnson blames voters for GOP election losses

When asked whether Trump needed to change course following the Republican defeat, Johnson said he would not advise the president on how to perform his job, arguing that the administration had delivered a strong record during its first two years.

“I’m not going to tell the president how to do his job. We have an incredible record of the first two years of his term, and I expect more success in the days ahead,” Johnson said.

The Republican then criticised the election outcome, placing responsibility on voters who supported Democratic candidates.

“I’m sorry that the voters made the wrong choice,” the speaker said. “I really do believe that these next two years are going to be a bit of a circus. It’s going to be chaos, and I hate to say that, but I think that’s where Democrats are going to lead the House.”

Johnson described the Democratic takeover as a “great tragedy,” arguing that Republicans would have continued delivering on their agenda had they retained control.

“If we had kept the majority, we would stay on course to continue delivering for the people and I just don’t know how that’s going to work going forward,” he said.

Democrats entered Election Day needing only a handful of victories to overcome the Republicans’ narrow House majority.

However, they ultimately gained 44 seats, with the results in the supplied figures showing 254 Democrats elected compared with 164 Republicans, while several races remained unresolved.

The party also secured important Senate victories in traditionally Republican states, including Texas, Iowa and Kansas.

Democrats plan Trump administration investigations

Democrats are also preparing to use their new congressional majority to investigate the Trump administration.

Rep Robert Garcia, who is expected to lead the House Oversight Committee, has indicated that investigations could examine Stephen Miller’s role in immigration enforcement, including policies surrounding detention, family separations and due process.

Garcia said that Miller was the “architect of this horrific, unjust policy happening across the country in the way that we are treating folks.”

He also criticised Miller’s previous comments about Alex Pretti and called for scrutiny of the administration’s immigration practices.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is positioned to become the next House speaker, has said he has “zero interest” in working with Miller, whom he described as a “stone-cold racist."