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The massive blue wave had decidedly rainbow undertones today (4 November) as the world woke up to the US midterm results, with Democrats taking control of both houses of Congress.

Exceeding expectations and cutting deep into red territory, the story of the night was one of overwhelming Democratic success after two years of MAGA 2.0.

For the queer community in the States and beyond, the results are cause for joy. While Republican attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights will not cease overnight, this signals a powerful shift forward for the progressive cause.

The results

At the time of writing, Democrats have flipped seven Senate seats, taking them to 54, against the Republicans' 44.

In the House, they have so far won 231 seats to the Republicans' 139. Democrats are on course for their strongest performance in the House since 1990, potentially securing their largest share of seats in more than three decades.

LGBTQIA+ candidates have also made history. Chris Pappas is the first openly gay man in the US Senate; Allison Montgomery was elected as Alabama's first openly transgender state legislator; and a number of others have won re-election despite well-funded campaigns against them that sought to smear them with anti-queer rhetoric.

The results brought wins for minority representation more broadly. Abdul El-Sayed has been elected as the first Muslim American to the Senate, Den Haaland became the first Native American governor of a US state, and Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected as the first Black governor of Georgia – a formerly segregated state.

These historic firsts came despite the naked racism directed at the candidates. American-born El-Sayed, for instance, was labelled a jihadist, prompting the response: “I’ll be Senator Muhammad to you, bro”.

Attacks with no reward

Republicans spent an estimated $183 million on transphobic television adverts, including $58 million in Texas alone, according to data firm AdImpact.

At a campaign rally, Trump said of newly elected Texas Senator James Talarico: “He wants to keep the transgender 'mutilization' of your children, open borders. He wants to keep men playing in women's sports. Figure that one out. No politician in history has been so obsessed with turning your young boys and girls transgender.”