Politics · 2026 Midterms
Democrats Won the House and Senate. What the 2026 Midterms Changed — and Did Not
By November 8 the AP count stood at 254–162 in the House and at least 54–44 in the Senate, with five governorships flipped.
House · 435 seats
254 – 162Democrats – Republicans. 19 uncalled; majority 218.Senate · 100 seats
54 – 44Democrats – Republicans. 2 uncalled; majority 51.Governors · 50 states
28 – 20Democrats – Republicans. 2 uncalled.AP calls, November 8, 2026.
01The night
The night the map changed
On Tuesday, November 3, American voters handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress. The AP called Senate control at 11:39 p.m. Eastern time, on the Iowa result. By Sunday, November 8, the AP count stood at 254–162 in the House, with 19 races uncalled, and at least 54–44 in the Senate, with two uncalled. Democrats also took the governorships, 28–20, with two races open.
The scale is what makes the night historic. Democrats won the national House popular vote by about 13 points, roughly 56 to 43 percent — the largest margin since the post-Watergate elections of 1974–76. They flipped more than 40 House districts, won seven Senate seats and lost none, and took five governorships, all five in states Donald Trump carried in 2024.
02House
The House: 254–162
The House has 435 seats, and 218 make a majority. Before the election, Republicans held 218, Democrats 214, one seat was held by independent Kevin Kiley of California, and two seats were vacant. Democrats needed a net gain of four. By November 8 they had won more than 40 districts last held by Republicans, plus the independent's seat and two newly drawn districts. Republicans won two districts held by Democrats, both under redrawn lines, in Tennessee and Texas.
The flips were spread across the map: five in North Carolina, four in Pennsylvania, and three each in Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and California. In California, the Proposition 50 redistricting measure delivered five seats, which would leave Democrats with 48 of the state's 52 seats if Representative Jay Obernolte holds the one district still uncalled there. Louisiana's 5th and 6th Districts go to runoffs on December 12. Projections put the final total at about 256 to 259 seats — the party's largest House majority since 2008.
03Senate
The Senate: seven flips, no seats lost
Thirty-five Senate seats were on the ballot — 33 regular and two special elections, in Florida and Ohio. Republicans held 22 of the 35; Democrats held 13. Before the election the balance was 53–47 Republican, counting the two independents who caucus with Democrats. By November 8, Democrats had won 20 of the 33 decided contests and Republicans 13, with two races uncalled. The balance stands at at least 54 Democratic-aligned seats — 52 Democrats plus two independents — to at least 44 Republican. Control is decided either way.
Four sitting senators lost: Susan Collins of Maine, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Darline Graham of South Carolina, and Jon Husted of Ohio. The call that settled control came late on election night, when the AP projected Josh Turek's Iowa win at 11:35 p.m. Democrats flipped seven seats and Republicans flipped none.
04The flips
Seven flips, state by state
Each of the seven flipped Senate seats broke a different kind of Republican hold. In North Carolina, Roy Cooper beat Michael Whatley by 58.7 percent to 39.1 percent in the open seat left by Thom Tillis's retirement — the first Democratic Senate win in the state since 2008. In Iowa, Josh Turek beat Ashley Hinson by 50.5 percent to 46.4 percent in the open seat left by Joni Ernst's retirement — the result that clinched control.
In Kansas, Adam Hamilton beat incumbent Roger Marshall by 50.9 percent to 46.1 percent — the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas since George McGill in 1932, a gap of 94 years. In Maine, Troy Jackson beat five-term incumbent Susan Collins by 53.8 percent to 46.1 percent; Collins conceded early on November 4. In South Carolina, Annie Andrews beat appointed incumbent Darline Graham by 51.1 percent to 46.7 percent — the first Democrat to win a Senate seat from the state since Fritz Hollings in 1998, and the first woman ever elected to the Senate from South Carolina. In Ohio's special election, former senator Sherrod Brown beat appointed incumbent Jon Husted by 50.0 percent to 45.2 percent, for a term running through January 3, 2029. The percentages are November 4 AP snapshots; none is certified.
| State | Winner | Defeated | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | Roy Cooper | Michael Whatley | 58.7–39.1 |
| Texas | James Talarico | Ken Paxton | 55.1–43.0 |
| Kansas | Adam Hamilton | Roger Marshall | 50.9–46.1 |
| Maine | Troy Jackson | Susan Collins | 53.8–46.1 |
| South Carolina | Annie Andrews | Darline Graham | 51.1–46.7 |
| Ohio (special) | Sherrod Brown | Jon Husted | 50.0–45.2 |
| Iowa | Josh Turek | Ashley Hinson | 50.5–46.4 |
05Texas
Texas: the half-billion-dollar race
The Texas Senate race was the most expensive Senate race in American history by either measure of the money. AdImpact counted 573 million dollars in political advertising spending and reservations — 165.7 million in the primary and 407.5 million in the general — the most expensive non-presidential contest ever. By the OpenSecrets measure of money actually spent, the race had reached about 560 million dollars by October 23, passing Georgia's 2020 record. Talarico raised 155 million dollars to Paxton's 40 million, but outside spending favoured Paxton. Talarico won by 55.1 percent to 43.0 percent — the first Democratic win in a Texas statewide race since 1994. The same night, Gina Hinojosa beat three-term governor Greg Abbott with 52.8 percent — the first Democratic governor of Texas in more than 30 years, and its first Latina governor.
06Governors
Governors: a majority in 16 years
Thirty-six governorships were on the ballot, and by November 8 the AP had called 22 for Democrats and 12 for Republicans, with two races uncalled. The called races give Democrats 28 governorships to 20 Republican — a Democratic majority for the first time in 16 years. Democrats flipped five governorships and Republicans flipped none, all five in states Trump carried in 2024. In Ohio, Amy Acton beat Vivek Ramaswamy with 52.3 percent — the first woman ever elected governor of Ohio. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms beat Rick Jackson with 54.3 percent — the first Black woman ever elected governor of any American state. Rob Sand won Iowa with 55.5 percent; Aaron Ford won Nevada with 51.7 percent.
07Voters
The voters who moved
The coalition that carried Donald Trump in 2024 came apart in 2026, and the shift was largest among the youngest voters. By the New York Times' Voter Trends measure, men aged 18 to 29 swung 38 points toward Democrats from 2024 — 61 percent Democratic to 38 percent Republican, a complete reversal — and Hispanic voters swung 28 points, voting 69 percent Democratic to 30 percent Republican. Voters under 30 backed Democrats by roughly two to one, a swing of roughly 32 to 34 points. The numbers must be read with their surveys attached: the AP/SSRS exit poll put the Hispanic swing at 21 points rather than 28, and the swing among voters under 30 at 34 points. Some of the shift may reflect who turned out.
08Map
The map underneath
The result was not only a reaction to the national mood; it was also a verdict on the year's redistricting. Republicans redrew 15 House seats to gain about nine seats over the 2024 lines. Democrats held 11 of the 15 redrawn seats, Republicans flipped two — Tennessee's 9th and Texas' 32nd — and two were still unprojected as of November 6. In Texas' 9th District, where Trump had won by 20 points in 2024, Democrat Leticia Gutierrez won despite being outspent on television by more than 1.5 million dollars to 53,000. Below the federal level, Democrats broke or prevented Republican supermajorities in nine legislative chambers across eight states, and flipped 12 in total. In Indiana, Democrats flipped 14 House seats and broke a supermajority held since 2012; in Missouri, they flipped 16 House seats and two Senate seats, ending 14-year supermajorities in both.
09Uncalled
Two Senate races still uncalled
Two Senate races were still uncalled on November 8, and both are close enough that the final balance of the chamber depends on them. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom led incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,574 votes — 467,930 to 465,356, about 97 percent counted. Mailed absentee ballots count if they arrive by November 10; counties certify by November 13. Mississippi has no provision for a statewide recount: a recount would require a court order. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola led incumbent Dan Sullivan by 637 votes — 102,962 to 102,325 — with about 74 percent counted. Neither candidate is above 50 percent of first choices, so the race goes to ranked-choice tabulation on November 18, with certification targeted for November 25. Neither race should be called for either candidate until the counts are done.
10Governors
Two governor races still uncalled
In Kansas, Democrat Cindy Holscher led Republican Ty Masterson by 5,557 votes in the November 4 count — 50.26 to 49.74 percent — and by just over 7,000 votes by November 6. Holscher has declared victory; Masterson has not conceded. The Kansas secretary of state has ordered a close-race audit, triggered by a margin under one percent. In Alaska, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins led the first-choice vote with 49.2 percent, about 20 points ahead of Republican Bernadette Wilson. If no candidate passes 50 percent, that race also goes to ranked-choice tabulation on November 18, the same date as the Senate race.
11Change
What changes in January
When the 120th Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027, the new majorities set the agenda in both chambers. Democrats will hold the committee chairs and gavels, the House's subpoena and investigative power, and control of Senate confirmations. In the House, bills pass by simple majority — 218 votes — which Democrats have. The House can also impeach by simple majority, though impeachment is not removal: that requires a Senate conviction, and the votes for it are not there. The most visible change will be in the Speaker's chair: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is running for Speaker, and if he wins the floor vote on January 3 he will become the first Black Speaker of the House.
12Limits
What does not change
Three numbers limit what the new majorities can do, and none of them moved on election night. Overriding a presidential veto takes two-thirds of the members voting in each chamber — 290 votes in the 435-member House and 67 in the 100-member Senate, if every seat votes. Democrats, at 254 House seats called and about 256 to 259 projected, are 31 to 36 votes short in the House, and 11 to 13 short in the Senate. Convicting and removing a president after impeachment takes the same 67 Senate votes, and most Senate legislation needs 60 votes to get past the filibuster. Trump has issued two vetoes in his second administration, both in 2025, and the House sustained both. Divided government is the framework the election produced — not a mandate that one party can legislate alone.
13Lame duck
The lame duck
Nothing changes hands until January. Both chambers return on November 9 for the lame-duck session of the 119th Congress; the House is scheduled to adjourn on December 17, the Senate on December 18. Until the transition, the outgoing Republican leadership keeps the agenda, the gavels and the floor votes. The date that governs the session is December 11: the stopgap law, H.R. 6500, funds federal agencies through that Friday, and a funding lapse would begin at 12:01 a.m. on December 12 if no full-year bills or another stopgap become law.
14Leadership
Leadership week
The first decisions of the new order are about people, not policy. House Republicans hold their leadership election on Tuesday, November 10. Speaker Mike Johnson told staff on November 4 that he will not stay on as Republican leader in the next Congress — reversing his October statement that he intended to stay even if Republicans lost the House. Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan are both seeking the post — minority leader, since Democrats won the House, rather than Speaker. Senate Republicans vote the same day; John Thune is running to remain the chamber's top Republican, with no public challenger. House Democrats vote later, on November 18 and 19: Jeffries for Speaker, and Minority Whip Katherine Clark for majority leader.
15Watchlist
Six dates to watch
The next two months are easier to follow if the checkpoints are fixed. November 9: the lame-duck session returns. November 10: the Republican leadership elections in the House and the Senate. November 13: Mississippi counties certify their Senate count. November 18: Alaska's ranked-choice tabulation, and the start of the House Democratic leadership votes, which run through November 19. December 11: the government-funding deadline, with a lapse beginning on December 12 if no deal is reached. January 3, 2027: the 120th Congress is sworn in at noon, the new majorities take their seats, and the House elects its Speaker. Every figure here is a call or a projection.
16Method
How this was reported
This article is desk research based on public sources checked against each other: AP race calls as compiled by Political.org, CNN's election-night takeaways, Le Monde, the University of Illinois farmdoc daily analysis, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and USA Today. Every figure is dated: the House total here is the latest AP count as of November 8.
Where sources disagreed, this article says so: the Hispanic swing is 28 points by the New York Times' measure and 21 by the AP exit poll, and the five California seats are the 1st, 22nd, 41st and 48th plus the redrawn Sacramento-area seat, because renumbering after Proposition 50 left the fifth seat's number disputed. All figures are as confirmed on November 8–9, 2026; the results are not certified, and the counts in Mississippi and Alaska are still open.
Sources
- AP race calls, Nov. 8, 2026: political.org
- CNN takeaways, Nov. 4: cnn.com
- Le Monde, midterms visualised, Nov. 4: lemonde.fr
- Le Monde, the 2024 coalition, Nov. 5: lemonde.fr
- Illinois farmdoc daily, Nov. 5: farmdocdaily.illinois.edu
- NCSL, state legislative elections, Nov. 6: ncsl.org
- USA Today, redistricting, Nov. 7: usatoday.com
- Economic Times, the uncalled Senate races, Nov. 8: economictimes.com
- Our Nov. 3 guide: newjinmedia.com
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