2026 Election Results: Democrats Win the Senate and House as Key Races Flip Across the Map

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to race calls by The Associated Press, in what AP described as a “shockingly decisive rebuke” of Republican governance in Washington. The party won the Senate first, then clinched a House majority early Wednesday, giving Democrats full control of Congress for the first time since 2023, NPR reported.

Votes are still being counted in many states, and several races remain uncalled. Here is where things stood as of about 1:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Who won the Senate?

Democrats did. Republicans began the year with a 53-47 majority and, according to NPR, little expectation that it was at risk. By early Wednesday, NPR counted seven Senate seats that flipped from Republican to Democratic control:

Democrats also held their seats in Georgia, where Sen. Jon Ossoff won easily, and in Minnesota, where Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan beat Republican Michele Tafoya. The Guardian reported Democratic wins in New Hampshire (Chris Pappas) and Virginia (Sen. Mark Warner). Republicans held Florida, where Sen. Ashley Moody won, the Guardian reported.

Senate races still being counted

• Mississippi: The Guardian reported the race was “on knife’s edge,” with Democrat Scott Colom ahead of Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by just 28 votes with 97% of votes counted. Colom told supporters the race would not be called Tuesday night.
• Michigan: The Guardian noted that VoteHub projected a win for Democrat Abdul El-Sayed near 1 a.m. ET, but there was no official call at that point, with much of Wayne County still to report.

Did the Democrats win the House?

Yes. The Guardian reported that Democrats clinched 219 House seats, one more than the 218 needed for a majority, and AP issued an alert that Democrats had won the House. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is poised to become speaker, NPR reported.

Notable House flips reported overnight include:

• Pennsylvania: Democrats ousted four Republican incumbents in swing districts, according to NPR, including Janelle Stelson’s win over Rep. Scott Perry, per the Guardian.
• Florida: Democrats won at least three districts that the Republican legislature had redrawn, NPR said.
• Kentucky: Democrats picked up a Lexington-area seat that Trump won with 57% in 2024, NPR reported.
• Iowa: Christina Bohannan unseated Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Sarah Trone Garriott beat Rep. Zach Nunn, the Guardian reported.
• Indiana and Wisconsin: JD Ford defeated Rep. Victoria Spartz, and Rebecca Cooke and Mitchell Berman beat Reps. Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil, per the Guardian.

Governor races: key results

Democrats also gained governorships, the Guardian’s live coverage showed:

• Texas: Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, becoming the state’s first Latina governor.
• Ohio: Amy Acton beat Vivek Ramaswamy.
• Georgia: Keisha Lance Bottoms won, a historic first.
• Iowa: Rob Sand won the governor’s race.
• Wisconsin: David Crowley became the state’s first Black governor.
• Minnesota: Sen. Amy Klobuchar was elected governor, defeating Republican Lisa Demuth.
• New Mexico: Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor.
• Arizona: Gov. Katie Hobbs was projected to win a second term over Andy Biggs.

Republicans held Florida, where Rep. Byron Donalds beat David Jolly, the Guardian reported, and Tennessee, where AP called the governor’s race for Sen. Marsha Blackburn, according to The Washington Post.

Why the results matter

AP said the results showed voters’ deep frustration with high prices, the war in Iran and concerns about government corruption. NPR noted that the GOP had been forced to compete in several states Trump carried by double digits in 2024.

With Democrats in charge of both chambers starting in January, NPR reported, Trump can expect congressional investigations, and his nominees and judicial picks will need some Democratic support in the Senate. Trump still has his veto, so Democratic bills will likely need his signature to become law. Before the vote, Trump told the Pod Force One podcast he would become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats took over, adding that “at some point we’ll probably make deals.”

FAQ