Democrats Capture Both Chambers of Congress in 2026 Midterms
Voters delivered a decisive rebuke to President Trump as Democrats took control of the House and Senate, positioning Hakeem Jeffries to become the first Black Speaker.
Washington2 min read
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Democrats secured majorities in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, ending Republican control of Congress after four years.
The Associated Press projected the House majority early Wednesday after Democrats flipped enough seats to reach 218. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York is now in line to become the first Black Speaker in U.S. history.
In the Senate, Democrats flipped at least six seats, including in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, and South Carolina. James Talarico became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Texas since 1988. Abdul El-Sayed won in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the chamber.
Voters cited high living costs, the ongoing conflict with Iran, and concerns over government actions as key factors. Trump posted that he was not on the ballot and claimed Republicans would have won in a landslide if he had been.
The new Democratic majorities will give the party power to investigate the administration and shape legislation for the final two years of Trump's term. Jeffries has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on affordability and oversight.
Historic governor wins accompanied the congressional results. Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia became the first Black woman elected governor of any state. Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor. Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott in Texas.
The scale of the losses reached into traditional Republican strongholds. Democrats flipped House seats in Iowa and Kentucky and Senate seats in states Trump carried in 2024.
Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader, called the outcome a generational remake of the map. Jeffries told supporters that Americans had had enough of extremism and corruption.
With control of both chambers, Democrats can set the legislative agenda, hold hearings, and potentially pursue investigations into administration policies. The precise size of the majorities will become clearer as remaining ballots are counted.
The results reset the balance of power in Washington less than two years after Republicans held the White House and both houses of Congress.
