Democrats are expanding their advantage in the US House of Representatives after a closely contested Colorado congressional race flipped from Republican to Democratic control, adding to a series of significant electoral setbacks for President Donald Trump and his Republican allies.

The latest projection shows Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert losing her seat to Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher by approximately 3,237 votes. The result further strengthens the Democratic position in the House, bringing their projected total to 256 seats, with 15 congressional races still awaiting final calls.

Democrats have recorded a net gain of 42 House seats, marking their largest increase since 2018. The remaining uncalled races could further expand their advantage, as Democrats are currently leading in three additional districts previously held by Republicans.

The latest Colorado result represents another setback for Trump, as Boebert has been one of his prominent congressional supporters. Her defeat also highlights the broader challenges facing Republican candidates in districts that were expected to remain safely Republican.

The changing balance of power comes as House Republicans face another major political battle over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie is leading an effort to impeach Hegseth, arguing that his continued leadership poses a threat to the Constitution.

The impeachment vote in the House could take place as early as the following morning, with reports suggesting that enough lawmakers may support the measure for it to pass despite Republicans maintaining control of the chamber.

Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, dismissing calls for his impeachment and praising his performance. The president argued that Hegseth had been involved in two successful wars and criticized Massie, describing him as a loser.

However, concerns reportedly remain inside the White House about whether Republican lawmakers have enough votes to impeach the defense secretary. According to CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes, several Trump allies and advisers believe Hegseth could still be asked to resign if the impeachment effort succeeds.

Holmes also reported that Trump associates have been discussing the possibility of Hegseth leaving his position, despite the president's public support. The Senate is widely expected to present a different challenge for the impeachment effort, with the administration reportedly believing that the measure would not advance there.

Another complication involves Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, who is preparing to become governor. Blackburn reportedly does not intend to appoint Hegseth to her Senate seat, removing one potential exit route that had previously been discussed.

Meanwhile, speculation is increasing that Hegseth could consider a presidential campaign in 2028. However, facing impeachment proceedings initiated by members of his own party could create significant political difficulties if he decides to pursue the Republican nomination.

The Democratic gains have also prompted Trump to question the integrity of the 2026 midterm elections. Nearly a week after the results became clear, Trump took to social media to suggest that the election had been rigged and questioned why polling had failed to predict the outcome.

He also raised concerns about early voting results and voting machines, suggesting that large early vote totals had made it difficult for Republicans to win.

However, the election discussion highlighted that Democrats had secured victories in several states where Republicans controlled election administration. The allegations of election manipulation have not been substantiated in the material discussed.

The political developments come after Democrats also established a projected advantage in the Senate, reaching 54 seats, while two closely watched races in Mississippi and Alaska remained uncalled. Democrats were reportedly leading in both contests at the time of the discussion.

Trump's response to the election results has raised further questions about his political strategy, particularly as Republicans face growing pressure from voters over the administration's policies and its handling of international conflicts.

Political commentators also argued that the election results could give moderate Republicans greater confidence to challenge the administration's decisions, particularly regarding Hegseth and the broader direction of US foreign policy.

With Democrats continuing to gain ground as outstanding congressional races are counted, the latest results could significantly reshape the political environment in Washington. The combination of Republican electoral losses, internal party divisions and the potential impeachment of a sitting defense secretary presents a growing challenge for Trump as his administration approaches the next phase of its presidency.