Key Points: 7 Senate Flips Stun Washington
- Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, according to the Associated Press.
- CNN projected the Senate flip at 11:35 p.m. ET, with Democrats winning at least 51 seats.
- Democrats flipped seven Republican-held Senate seats, including Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, Iowa, Maine, Kansas, and North Carolina.
- In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won the Senate race. Alaska’s contest between Mary Peltola and Sen. Dan Sullivan was still too close to call.
- President Trump congratulated Democrats but said he does not see the results as a rejection of his leadership.
2026 US Election Results: Who Won the Midterms?
Democrats did. After a long night, the AP called the Senate for Democrats shortly before midnight on Tuesday. It called the House for them early Wednesday morning, completing a sweep of Congress.
Democrats needed a net gain of four Senate seats and three House seats. Republicans had gone in with a 53 to 47 Senate majority.
Final seat totals were still being counted when this was written. Several close races had not been called.
The Seven Senate Flips
The Senate flips are the biggest story. Time and the AP list wins in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.
In Iowa, Josh Turek defeated Rep. Ashley Hinson. In Maine, Troy Jackson beat longtime Sen. Susan Collins, who conceded.
In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown defeated Sen. Jon Husted. In South Carolina, Annie Andrews defeated Sen. Lindsey Graham, according to AP projections reported by Axios.
Texas: A 38-Year Drought Ends
James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate race since 1988. NBC News showed him at 55 percent to Paxton’s 43 percent.
Paxton conceded around 10:20 p.m., according to Houston Public Media. Talarico, 37, will be the Senate’s youngest member.
He used a David and Goliath line in his victory speech. Sen. John Cornyn, who lost to Paxton in the primary, said voters had spoken.
Michigan Election Results
Michigan’s Senate race ended with a win for Abdul El-Sayed, according to AP projections. He beat Republican Mike Rogers.
The result came after Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers days earlier. Yahoo News noted that El-Sayed’s win kept Democrats from losing one of the few seats they were defending.
Michigan was close in 2024, so this was a notable margin to watch.
What About Alaska and Nebraska?
Alaska’s Senate race was still undecided. CBS News said the contest between Sullivan and Peltola was tight and counting could take time.
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, so the final round can come later. That race was also shaken up by the second-Dan-Sullivan controversy.
In Nebraska, Yahoo News reported that Sen. Pete Ricketts won, so independent Dan Osborn fell short.
The House Flip
Democrats also won the House. MS NOW called it just before 10 p.m. ET, followed by CNN, NBC, and CBS, while the AP waited until early Wednesday.
CBC reported that Hakeem Jeffries is set to become the first Black Speaker of the House. He must first be elected by the incoming House, as Forbes noted.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was disappointed in the Democratic gains.
The Angle Few People Explain: Why Calls Came at Different Times
Many readers asked why different outlets announced winners at different times. This is a helpful thing to know on any election night.
News networks and decision desks, such as NBC and Decision Desk HQ, use their own models. Some call a race early when the numbers point one way, and the AP often waits for more votes.
So an early call is not wrong, and a later one is not a reversal. Check which organization made the call, and note that final counts can still change.
Trump’s Reaction
Trump said Democrats did a good job, according to AP and Yahoo coverage. He also blamed Republican candidates for the losses.
He said he does not view the results as a rejection of his leadership. Democratic commentators called the result a repudiation of Trump’s agenda.
Trump is, as many people ask, a Republican, and he was not on the ballot this year.
What Happens If Democrats Win the House and Senate?
Democrats will control committees, meaning they can launch investigations and issue subpoenas. They can also block Republican bills.
Control of the Senate matters for confirmations, including judges and Cabinet picks. New members take office when Congress begins in January.
A split with Trump in the White House could mean gridlock, or deals on must-pass bills. Both parties will have a say.
Quick Answers
How many seats are there? The Senate has 100 seats and the House has 435. A House majority is 218, and a Senate majority is 51 for Democrats, since Vice President JD Vance breaks ties for Republicans.
When will we know the final results? Most races are called, but close ones, including Alaska, can take days. Watch AP and official state sites for updates.
Is it a blue wave? Many outlets used that phrase, though final totals will show how big it was.
What to Watch Next
Watch the remaining Alaska count and any recounts. Also watch whether Jeffries and Senate Democratic leaders lay out a first agenda.
The next test will be how Trump and Congress handle spending and nominees. The 2026 midterm results have changed the map in Washington.