Democrats Take Control of Both House and Senate in 2026 Midterms

Democrats gained control of both the US House of Representatives and the Senate in the 3 November 2026 midterm elections, according to projections from the Associated Press and other decision desks. The party reached at least 228 seats in the House and 54 in the Senate, including independents who caucus with them.

Republicans held the House by a narrow margin entering the night and defended 22 Senate seats. Democrats needed a net gain of three House seats for a majority and four Senate seats. They exceeded both thresholds with flips in Texas, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina.

In the Senate, the results stand at 54 for Democrats and 44 for Republicans with two races still uncalled. The House count showed Democrats at 228 or higher against Republicans at around 139, with dozens of seats remaining to be decided as of 4 November. The new Congress takes office on 3 January 2027.

President Donald Trump campaigned extensively in the final month. Exit polls cited by CBS News put his approval at 38 percent. Voters cited high prices, tariffs and the Iran conflict as major factors. About six in ten voters in one large poll said the United States made the wrong decision in taking military action against Iran.

Vice President JD Vance wrote on X on 4 November that the Iran war was the reason Republicans lost. He stated that if the conflict was worth losing the Senate for six years, that argument should be made openly. Trump acknowledged the war as one factor but said he would make the same decision again. The White House said Trump would work with Democrats unless they sought to obstruct.

The Senate flips included James Talarico defeating Ken Paxton in Texas, the first Democratic Senate win in the state since 1988. Abdul El-Sayed won the open Michigan seat, becoming the first Muslim elected to the chamber. Other gains came in Ohio, where Sherrod Brown defeated Jon Husted, and in South Carolina and Kansas, states Trump carried by wide margins in 2024.

House gains extended into districts Trump won by double digits. Democrats flipped seats in Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina among others. The party also took the Texas governorship with Gina Hinojosa defeating three-term incumbent Greg Abbott, the first Democratic statewide win in Texas since 1994.

Republican spending in key races was heavy. In Texas alone, outside groups and campaigns spent more than half a billion dollars on the Senate contest. Elon Musk contributed substantial sums to a super PAC supporting Paxton. Democratic candidates focused on costs of living and local concerns in their messaging.

The outcome returns divided government. Democrats control the legislative branch while Trump remains president. They gain the power to set the agenda in both chambers, conduct oversight and block or modify administration proposals. Confirmation of judicial and executive nominees will require Democratic support in the Senate.

Two Senate races remain uncalled as of early 5 November: Alaska and Mississippi. Final House margins will depend on remaining counts. The results mark the first time since 2023 that one party holds both chambers.