Democrats Secure House and Senate Majorities in 2026 Midterm Elections

Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, according to projections from multiple outlets including the Associated Press, CNN, and the New York Times. As of early November 5, Democrats held at least 240 House seats against 147 for Republicans, with dozens of races still uncalled. In the Senate, the Democratic caucus stood at 54 seats to 44 for Republicans, with Alaska and Mississippi remaining too close to call.

The results ended two years of unified Republican control under President Donald Trump. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the outcome as an American tsunami. Democrats flipped seats in states Trump had carried by double digits in 2024, including Texas, Ohio, Kansas, and Iowa.

Key Senate flips included James Talarico defeating Ken Paxton in Texas, Adam Hamilton unseating Roger Marshall in Kansas, Sherrod Brown beating Jon Husted in Ohio, Annie Andrews defeating Darline Graham in South Carolina, Josh Turek ousting Ashley Hinson in Iowa, and Roy Cooper taking the open North Carolina seat. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won. Maine saw Susan Collins concede to Troy Jackson.

Voters cited the ongoing Iran war and high prices as primary reasons for the shift. Vice President JD Vance publicly attributed the losses to the war, writing that the reason Republicans lost was the war. President Trump acknowledged the connection, telling reporters the Iran effort was something that had to be done and that the party continued to pursue it. He said he would get along with Democrats unless they sought to be destructive, noting his veto power.

House Democrats are projected to hold at least 250 seats once remaining races are called, potentially more. The Senate Democratic caucus is expected to reach at least 54, with possible additional gains in the two uncalled races. Turnout reached near-record levels, with roughly 122.7 million ballots counted according to preliminary estimates from the University of Florida’s Election Lab.

The new Congress will convene in January 2027. Democrats have signaled plans to check Trump’s agenda on spending, the Iran conflict, and other priorities. Republicans in the House face a leadership contest, with figures including Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan positioning themselves. At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces bipartisan pressure, with some calling for his removal over the war’s political costs.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom separately announced the commutation of all 548 death row sentences to life without parole on the same day, citing moral objections to capital punishment. The move does not repeal the state’s death penalty statute and requires court review for many cases involving multiple felonies.

The midterm results also coincided with a sharp sell-off in technology stocks. The Nasdaq Composite fell more than 5 percent on November 5, its worst day since April 2025, as investors assessed the implications of Democratic gains for AI infrastructure and data center expansion in states such as Texas.

Black voters and other groups helped drive Democratic gains across the South and in competitive districts, according to reports from the Associated Press and the New York Times. Several candidates who made history as firsts won seats, though many campaigns emphasized local economic issues over identity framing.

The full count of remaining House races will take days. Alaska’s Senate contest between Mary Peltola and Dan Sullivan remains within a few hundred votes with a substantial share of ballots outstanding. Mississippi’s race between Scott Colom and Cindy Hyde-Smith is similarly tight.

These outcomes reshape the final two years of Trump’s term. Divided government returns to Washington for the first time since 2023, with Democrats holding both chambers and the ability to set the legislative calendar while the White House retains veto authority.