Democrats gained control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in the 2026 midterm elections held on Tuesday, November 3. The party secured majorities by winning races in traditional battlegrounds and several states historically held by Republicans, including South Carolina, Kansas, and Texas. The projected Democratic majorities in both chambers are expected to be the largest for either party since 2009.
In the Senate, Democrats won seats in South Carolina, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, and Maine, putting them on a path to hold between 54 and 56 seats. In South Carolina, Annie Andrews (D) defeated Sen. Darline Graham (R), while in Kansas, Adam Hamilton (D) defeated Sen. Roger Marshall (R). In the House, Democrats are projected to win approximately 255 seats, having already flipped at least eight Republican-held seats by late Tuesday night.
The election resulted in several firsts for state and federal offices. Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) became the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state in Georgia, while Rep. Byron Donalds (R) became the first Black Republican governor of Florida. In Texas, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D) defeated incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to become the state’s first Latina governor. Voters also approved ballot measures protecting abortion rights in Virginia and Nevada, while rejecting a similar measure in Idaho.
The election results impact millions of residents in states where party control shifted, such as Texas, where James Talarico (D) became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat since 1988, defeating Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) by nearly 12 points. Republican candidates and committees, including President Trump’s political operation, spent more than $380 million to retain control, yet failed to defeat any incumbent Democrats seeking reelection. In Florida, Rep. Darren Soto (D) and Rep. Shomari Figures (D) retained their seats despite running in districts that had become more conservative due to redistricting.
Final results in some races remain pending as of Wednesday, November 4. In Alaska, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) holds a narrow lead of less than one point over former Rep. Mary Peltola (D), but state officials noted a final result could take two weeks as absentee ballots are accepted through Nov. 18. In Mississippi, the Senate race between incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) and Ty Pinkins (D) is currently reported as too close to call. The new Congress is scheduled to be sworn in during January 2027.