Democrats Secure Control of Both Chambers of Congress in 2026 Midterms

Democrats took control of the United States Senate and House of Representatives on November 3, 2026, ending Republican majorities in both chambers after two years of unified government under President Donald Trump.

Projections from the Associated Press, Decision Desk HQ, and other outlets confirmed the shift by early November 4. In the Senate, Democrats reached at least 53 or 54 seats with a net gain of seven, including flips in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, South Carolina, Iowa, North Carolina, and Maine. They retained their own competitive seats in Michigan and Georgia. Republicans dropped to around 42-44 seats, with a few races still outstanding.

In the House, Democrats crossed the 218-seat threshold needed for a majority and were on track for 224 to 232 seats according to live tallies. That represented a gain of roughly 25 to 29 seats from their previous total. They flipped districts that had backed Trump by double-digit margins in 2024, including several in Florida that Republican mapmakers had redrawn earlier in the year.

The results marked the first time an incumbent president has lost both chambers of Congress since Barack Obama's second term. Exit polling conducted by a consortium including the Associated Press showed roughly half of voters said they viewed the election as a chance to rebuke the president. Three-quarters described themselves as angry or dissatisfied with the direction of the country. High prices and the ongoing war in Iran ranked among the top concerns.

James Talarico defeated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to become the first Democrat to win a statewide race in Texas in 32 years. Adam Hamilton ousted Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, the first Democratic senator from that state since 1932. Annie Andrews defeated Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina. Sherrod Brown returned to the Senate from Ohio. Josh Turek won in Iowa. Roy Cooper took the open seat in North Carolina. In Maine, Troy Jackson defeated incumbent Susan Collins.

Governorships also shifted. Gina Hinojosa became the first Latina governor of Texas after defeating three-term incumbent Greg Abbott. Keisha Lance Bottoms won in Georgia. Other Democratic gains included races in Iowa and Ohio.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the results showed voters had rejected extremism and corruption. He stated that Democrats would deliver for the American people once the new Congress convenes in January. Senate Democrats framed the outcome as a generational remake of the chamber.

President Trump posted on Truth Social that Republicans would have won in a landslide if he had been on the ballot. He later told Fox News that the war in Iran could be partly to blame for the backlash but maintained that the decision to fight had been correct. Vice President JD Vance also pointed to the Iran conflict as a factor in Republican losses. Trump said he was willing to accept the results and work with Democrats, noting that presidents historically veto for a period before deals are made.

The new Democratic majorities will give the party the power to subpoena records, compel testimony, and set the legislative agenda in both chambers. Confirmation of executive nominees will require Democratic support in the Senate. Investigations into the administration are expected. The final two years of Trump's term will operate under divided government for the first time in his presidency.

Markets reacted positively in early trading on November 4, with futures rising on the expectation of fewer policy shocks under split control. Some investors had priced in continued Republican majorities.

Full certification of results will continue in the coming days as outstanding races are called. The new Congress takes office in January 2027.