Democrats have won control of both the U.S. House and Senate in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, according to projections from outlets including NBC News, CNN, the Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, and The Economist. This marks a significant shift, delivering a Democratic majority in Congress for the first time in several years and creating divided government for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term.
Senate
Democrats flipped at least seven Republican-held seats, giving them a projected majority in the range of 53–54 seats (including independents who caucus with them), depending on remaining counts. Key flips include:
- Texas: James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Ken Paxton (first Democratic senator from Texas since 1988).
- Kansas: Adam Hamilton won (first Democratic senator from the state since 1932).
- Iowa, Ohio (Sherrod Brown), North Carolina (Roy Cooper), South Carolina (Annie Andrews), and Maine(Troy Jackson over Susan Collins).
Democrats also held competitive seats such as Georgia (Jon Ossoff) and Michigan (Abdul El-Sayed, projected as the first Muslim U.S. senator). A few races (including Alaska and Mississippi) remained uncalled or extremely close as of early November 4.
House
Democrats cleared the 218-seat threshold for a majority, with projections ranging from roughly 220–250+ seats (net gains of 25 or more) as remaining races are called. This exceeds most pre-election forecasts. Gains included districts in states such as Pennsylvania, Florida, and others, including some that had been redrawn by Republican-controlled legislatures.
Other notable results
Democrats flipped several governorships, including Texas (Gina Hinojosa, the state’s first Latina governor, defeating Greg Abbott), Iowa, Ohio, and Georgia. There were also various state legislative shifts.
Voter motivations
Exit polls (NBC News, AP, and others) showed widespread dissatisfaction. Trump’s approval stood around 38%. Roughly 43% of voters said they cast ballots in part to oppose him (higher than in 2018). The economy and cost of living were dominant concerns—about 75% rated the economy as poor, with many blaming Trump’s policies (including tariffs). Other factors cited included the war in Iran and concerns about government corruption. Support among younger voters and Hispanic voters shifted toward Democrats relative to 2024.
Implications
Starting in January 2027, Democrats will control both chambers of Congress. This enables them to set the legislative agenda, conduct investigations, and serve as a check on the executive branch. Trump has indicated willingness to accept the results and work with Democrats, though friction is expected on issues such as immigration enforcement, fiscal policy, and oversight.
Results are still being finalized in some close races, and final certified totals may adjust margins slightly. Major outlets’ live trackers (CNN, NBC, The Economist, Guardian) continue to update as counts conclude.
