Democrats Secure Control of Both Chambers in 2026 Midterms
Voters handed Democrats majorities in the House and Senate on November 3, flipping seats in longtime Republican states as frustration over the Iran conflict and living costs drove the result.
Washington2 min read
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Democrats took control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, according to projections from the Associated Press and other decision desks. The party flipped at least seven Republican-held Senate seats, including in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, Maine and North Carolina, producing a majority of at least 54 to 44 with two races still uncalled.
In the House, Democrats gained at least 25 seats, reaching well above the 218 needed for a majority. Projections placed them near or above 240 seats once remaining races are resolved. The result returns full congressional control to Democrats for the first time since 2023 and sets up two years of divided government with President Donald Trump.
Exit polls cited by major outlets showed widespread dissatisfaction with rising prices and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Vice President JD Vance later stated on social media that the war was the primary reason for the Republican losses. Trump acknowledged the conflict played a role but defended the decision to pursue it.
Key Senate flips included James Talarico defeating Ken Paxton in Texas, the first Democratic statewide win there in more than three decades, and Adam Hamilton taking Kansas, the first Democratic senator from the state since the 1930s. Similar upsets occurred in South Carolina and other states Trump carried by wide margins in 2024.
Democratic leaders indicated they would use the majorities to investigate administration actions and constrain further military commitments. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, announced they would not seek leadership roles in the next Congress. Races in Alaska and Mississippi remained too close to call on November 5.
The scale of the shifts extended to governorships, with Democrats taking Texas from Greg Abbott and capturing several other Republican-held states. Voter turnout and the concentration of anger over energy costs and foreign policy produced gains even in districts previously considered safe for Republicans.
Congress convenes under the new majorities in January 2027. The immediate effect is a shift in legislative leverage on spending, sanctions and any further authorizations related to the Iran conflict. Specific bills and oversight agendas will emerge once remaining counts finish and leadership elections conclude.
