Democrats Take Control of Senate and House in 2026 Midterms

Democrats secured control of both the United States Senate and House of Representatives on November 3, 2026, after flipping multiple Republican-held seats in states that had remained out of reach for decades. Projections from the Associated Press, NBC News, CNN and others showed the party holding at least 53 to 54 Senate seats, including two independents who caucus with Democrats, against roughly 42 to 44 for Republicans, with a few races still outstanding. In the House, Democrats crossed the 218-seat majority threshold early, with tallies reaching the mid-220s as additional seats were called.

The Senate gains included James Talarico in Texas, who defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton to become the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat since 1993. Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott in the same state by nearly 700,000 votes, becoming the first Latina governor of Texas. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed defeated former Congressman Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the Senate. Annie Andrews defeated Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina. Other flips occurred in Iowa, where Josh Turek won the seat vacated by retiring Senator Joni Ernst; in Kansas, where Adam Hamilton ended a 94-year Republican hold; in Ohio with Sherrod Brown; in North Carolina with Roy Cooper; and in Maine, where Troy Jackson defeated Susan Collins.

Governor races added further firsts. Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in the country after winning in Georgia. Deb Haaland won in New Mexico as the first Native American woman to hold a governorship. Democrats also flipped or held governorships in Ohio and Iowa. Republicans retained the Florida governorship with Byron Donalds.

President Donald Trump told the New York Times he was absolutely willing to accept the results and prepared to work with Democrats. He had voted earlier in the day and described the outcome as part of the normal midterm pattern in which the party in power loses seats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is positioned to become the first Black Speaker of the House once the new Congress convenes.

The scale of the shifts exceeded pre-election expectations in several southern and midwestern states. Texas, which had not elected a Democratic senator or governor since the 1990s, delivered both offices on the same night. Kansas had not elected a Democratic senator since 1932. These outcomes alter the balance of power for the remaining two years of Trump's term. Legislation on spending, nominations and investigations now requires Democratic majorities in both chambers.

Voter concerns over living costs and the ongoing conflict involving Iran appeared in multiple state exit analyses cited by news organizations. Trump had previously indicated he would not launch major new strikes on Iran immediately after the election while leaving open the possibility of further action. Markets reacted with a rise in equities and a drop in the dollar, as investors priced in the changed congressional composition and potential regulatory shifts in technology and energy.

The results also produced a set of demographic firsts that expand the composition of the Senate and state executive offices. El-Sayed's victory in Michigan, Bottoms in Georgia and Hinojosa in Texas occurred alongside continued Republican strength in states such as Florida. With several races still being tabulated as of November 4, final margins will determine the exact size of the Democratic majorities, but the control of both chambers is established.

The new Congress will confront appropriations for the current fiscal year, judicial nominations and oversight of executive actions on trade, energy and foreign assistance. Trump has already signaled willingness to negotiate on certain items. The midterm outcome places those negotiations under Democratic majorities for the first time since early in the decade.