Democrats have taken control of both the House and Senate after a bruising midterm election for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. From Texas to South Carolina, voters delivered results few would have predicted just two years ago.
The November 3, 2026 midterm elections weren't particularly kind to Republicans.
Democrats flipped seven Republican-held Senate seats, captured more than two dozen House districts and won several governorships that had been in Republican hands for years.
Some of the biggest surprises came from states Trump won comfortably in 2024. Texas elected a Democratic senator and governor. Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since 1932. South Carolina delivered another unexpected Democratic Senate victory.
For Trump, who still has two years left in his presidency, losing control of Congress means a very different Washington when lawmakers return in January.
But it wasn't a clean sweep. Republicans held on to several important offices, including the Florida governorship, and some closely contested elections were still awaiting final calls.
Here's how the election unfolded, who won, who lost and what comes next.
Democrats Win the Senate, With Seven Republican Seats Flipped
Republicans entered election night defending their Senate majority. By Wednesday morning, that majority was gone.
Democrats captured Republican-held seats in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina and Maine.
As of the latest available November 4 results snapshot, Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them held 54 seats. Republicans had 44, with Alaska and Mississippi still undecided.
The Texas result was particularly damaging for Republicans.
Democrat James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate election in Texas since 1988.
Paxton had defeated incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in the GOP primary with Trump's support. Republicans had spent heavily trying to keep the seat, but Talarico won comfortably.
Kansas was another major upset. Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Senator Roger Marshall, giving his party its first Senate victory in the state since the Great Depression.
In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham in a state Trump carried by nearly 18 percentage points in 2024.
Graham had been appointed to the Senate following the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham, earlier in 2026. Trump backed her candidacy, but that support wasn't enough to secure a victory.
Maine saw the end of Susan Collins' three-decade Senate career after she lost to Democrat Troy Jackson.
Ohio voters returned former Senator Sherrod Brown to Washington, while Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson in Iowa.
Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper also won a Senate seat, defeating Republican Michael Whatley.
Democrats successfully defended several competitive seats. Jon Ossoff won reelection in Georgia, Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, and Chris Pappas won New Hampshire's open seat.
Republicans weren't without victories. Ashley Moody held Florida's Senate seat, Pete Ricketts won in Nebraska, and Republican candidates also prevailed in Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia and several other states.
Republicans Lose the House Majority
The bad news for Republicans continued in the House of Representatives.
Democrats passed the 218-seat threshold needed to win control, flipping districts across Pennsylvania, Iowa, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, North Carolina and other states.
In Iowa, where Republicans had held every U.S. House seat before the election, Democrats won three districts.
The results were especially frustrating for Republicans because the party had spent much of the election cycle working to protect its congressional majority.
Republican-led redistricting efforts in states such as Texas and Florida had been intended to create more favorable electoral maps. Instead, Democrats won several districts Republicans had hoped to secure.
The House results weren't entirely one-sided. Republican candidates continued to win seats across the South and Midwest, including victories in Florida.
At the latest verified count, Democrats had secured 228 seats and Republicans 139, with 68 races still uncalled.
Those numbers were enough to establish Democratic control, although the final majority could change as counting continued.
Texas Rejects Republicans in Two Major Statewide Races
Texas produced arguably the biggest surprise of the election.
Alongside James Talarico's Senate victory, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term.
Hinojosa becomes Texas's first Latina governor and the first Democrat elected to the office since Ann Richards in 1990.
Republicans have held the Texas governor's office since 1995, so Abbott's defeat represents a significant break from the state's recent political history.
Texas Democrats had been talking about turning the state blue for years, but those ambitions repeatedly fell short in statewide elections.
This time, they won two of the biggest races on the ballot.
That doesn't necessarily mean Texas has permanently become a Democratic state. Voters can turn against an incumbent party without changing their broader political views.
Still, losing both the governor's office and a U.S. Senate seat is a result Texas Republicans will be examining closely.
Democrats Flip Governorships, but Republicans Hold Florida
Democrats also made substantial gains in gubernatorial elections, taking Republican-held offices in Texas, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and Nevada.
In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in American history.
Ohio elected Democrat Amy Acton over Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
Iowa voters chose Democrat Rob Sand over Republican Zach Lahn, while Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford defeated incumbent Republican Governor Joe Lombardo.
Other notable victories included Jocelyn Benson in Michigan, David Crowley in Wisconsin and Deb Haaland in New Mexico, where she became the first Native American woman elected governor of a U.S. state.
California elected Xavier Becerra, its first Latino governor to win the office through a direct election. Romualdo Pacheco previously served as California governor in 1875 after succeeding the departing governor.
Republicans, meanwhile, managed to hold several states.
Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida, becoming the first Black Republican elected governor in U.S. history.
Marsha Blackburn won Tennessee's gubernatorial election, becoming the first woman elected governor of the state.
Republican Governors Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Phil Scott of Vermont also won reelection.
Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming remained in Republican hands.
With 34 of the 36 state governor races called, Democrats held 28 governorships nationwide and Republicans 20. Alaska and Kansas remained undecided in the latest verified count.
Why Did So Many Voters Turn Against Republicans?
For all the campaign speeches, television advertisements and political arguments, one issue kept coming up: money.
More specifically, how much Americans were spending just to get through an ordinary week.
Grocery bills, housing costs, healthcare expenses and gas prices remained major concerns heading into the election.
Trump returned to the White House in 2025 promising to tackle inflation and make everyday life more affordable. But many voters weren't satisfied with the results.
An Associated Press survey of midterm voters found that about two-thirds believed Trump's policies had made the economy worse. Roughly eight in ten of those voters supported Democratic House candidates.
The war with Iran, tariffs and government corruption were also major issues.
Republicans tried to emphasize immigration, crime and cultural issues, areas where the party has traditionally performed well. But those arguments struggled to overcome economic frustration in many races.
The polling also showed that voters weren't particularly enthusiastic about either major party.
About half viewed Democrats favorably, compared with roughly four in ten who viewed Republicans positively.
That matters when interpreting the election.
Some voters may have embraced Democratic candidates and their policies. Others simply wanted to register their dissatisfaction with the administration.
The results don't automatically mean every state that voted Democratic this year will do the same in 2028.
Trump Responds as His Endorsed Candidates Lose
Several candidates supported by Trump suffered significant defeats.
Ken Paxton in Texas and Darline Graham in South Carolina both lost despite receiving the president's backing.
Even Susan Collins, who had occasionally broken with Trump, couldn't survive the national political environment.
Trump reacted to the results by suggesting Republicans would have performed better had he personally been on the ballot.
"I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" he wrote on Truth Social.
He later said he was willing to accept the election results and work with Democrats.
There are now difficult questions facing Republican leaders, particularly those considering presidential campaigns in 2028.
How much of the defeat was caused by individual candidates? How much came from Trump's policies? And can Republicans recover voters who supported the president in 2024 but backed Democrats two years later?
Those debates are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
What Happens to Trump Now?
When the new Congress takes office in January 2027, Democrats will control both chambers.
That gives them the ability to block Republican legislation, lead congressional investigations and challenge administration appointments requiring Senate confirmation.
The House can hold oversight hearings and issue subpoenas. The Senate can reject presidential nominees, including candidates for federal judgeships.
Federal spending and immigration policy could become major battlegrounds, along with the war with Iran and the administration's use of executive power.
But Trump isn't powerless.
He retains his veto authority, and Democrats don't have the two-thirds congressional majorities generally needed to override a presidential veto.
That could leave Washington dealing with a familiar problem: a president and Congress controlled by opposing parties, with both sides struggling to pass major legislation.
Trump is also constitutionally barred from being elected to another presidential term, making the 2028 election an increasingly important consideration for Republicans looking beyond his presidency.
For Democrats, winning Congress gives them considerably more influence. It also means voters may expect them to do more than oppose the White House.
The economy remains a problem for millions of Americans, regardless of which party controls Capitol Hill.
Full 2026 Senate Election Results
The following table lists the winners or current leaders in all 35 Senate races, along with their main opponents.
D = Democrat | R = Republican | I = Independent
Projected results as of November 4, 2026. Alaska and Mississippi had not been called.
| State | Winner or leader | Main opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Barry Moore (R) | Everett Wess (D) |
| Alaska | Dan Sullivan (R), leading | Mary Peltola (D) |
| Arkansas | Tom Cotton (R) | Hallie Shoffner (D) |
| Colorado | John Hickenlooper (D) | Mark Baisley (R) |
| Delaware | Chris Coons (D) | Michael Katz (R) |
| Florida | Ashley Moody (R) | Angie Nixon (D) |
| Georgia | Jon Ossoff (D) | Mike Collins (R) |
| Idaho | Jim Risch (R) | Todd Achilles (I) |
| Illinois | Juliana Stratton (D) | Don Tracy (R) |
| Iowa | Josh Turek (D) | Ashley Hinson (R) |
| Kansas | Adam Hamilton (D) | Roger Marshall (R) |
| Kentucky | Andy Barr (R) | Charles Booker (D) |
| Louisiana | Julia Letlow (R) | Jamie Davis (D) |
| Maine | Troy Jackson (D) | Susan Collins (R) |
| Massachusetts | Ed Markey (D) | John Deaton (R) |
| Michigan | Abdul El-Sayed (D) | Mike Rogers (R) |
| Minnesota | Peggy Flanagan (D) | Michele Tafoya (R) |
| Mississippi | Scott Colom (D), leading | Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) |
| Montana | Kurt Alme (R) | Seth Bodnar (I) |
| Nebraska | Pete Ricketts (R) | Dan Osborn (I) |
| New Hampshire | Chris Pappas (D) | John Sununu (R) |
| New Jersey | Cory Booker (D) | Justin Murphy (R) |
| New Mexico | Ben Ray Luján (D) | Larry Marker (R) |
| North Carolina | Roy Cooper (D) | Michael Whatley (R) |
| Ohio | Sherrod Brown (D) | Jon Husted (R) |
| Oklahoma | Kevin Hern (R) | N'Kiyla Thomas (D) |
| Oregon | Jeff Merkley (D) | David Smith (R) |
| Rhode Island | Jack Reed (D) | Raymond McKay (R) |
| South Carolina | Annie Andrews (D) | Darline Graham (R) |
| South Dakota | Mike Rounds (R) | Brian Bengs (I) |
| Tennessee | Bill Hagerty (R) | Marquita Bradshaw (D) |
| Texas | James Talarico (D) | Ken Paxton (R) |
| Virginia | Mark Warner (D) | Bert Mizusawa (R) |
| West Virginia | Shelley Moore Capito (R) | Rachel Anderson (D) |
| Wyoming | Harriet Hageman (R) | James Byrd (D) |
Alaska and Mississippi Still Too Close to Call
Republican Senator Dan Sullivan was narrowly leading Democrat Mary Peltola in Alaska, with about 72% of the expected vote counted.
Mississippi was exceptionally close. Democrat Scott Colom led incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith by just 43 votes in one published count, with approximately 96% of the expected vote reported.
Neither race had been called in the latest verified results.
Full 2026 Governor Election Results
Thirty-six states held gubernatorial elections. The table below includes all 36 contests.
Projected results as of November 4, 2026. Alaska and Kansas remained uncalled.
| State | Winner or leader | Main opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Tommy Tuberville (R) | Doug Jones (D) |
| Alaska | Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D), leading | Bernadette Wilson (R) |
| Arizona | Katie Hobbs (D) | Andy Biggs (R) |
| Arkansas | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) | Fred Love (D) |
| California | Xavier Becerra (D) | Steve Hilton (R) |
| Colorado | Phil Weiser (D) | Victor Marx (R) |
| Connecticut | Ned Lamont (D) | Ryan Fazio (R) |
| Florida | Byron Donalds (R) | David Jolly (D) |
| Georgia | Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) | Rick Jackson (R) |
| Hawaii | Josh Green (D) | Gary Cordery (R) |
| Idaho | Brad Little (R) | Terri Pickens (D) |
| Illinois | JB Pritzker (D) | Darren Bailey (R) |
| Iowa | Rob Sand (D) | Zach Lahn (R) |
| Kansas | Cindy Holscher (D), leading | Ty Masterson (R) |
| Maine | Hannah Pingree (D) | Robert Charles (R) |
| Maryland | Wes Moore (D) | Dan Cox (R) |
| Massachusetts | Maura Healey (D) | Michael Minogue (R) |
| Michigan | Jocelyn Benson (D) | John James (R) |
| Minnesota | Amy Klobuchar (D) | Lisa Demuth (R) |
| Nebraska | Jim Pillen (R) | Lynne Walz (D) |
| Nevada | Aaron Ford (D) | Joe Lombardo (R) |
| New Hampshire | Kelly Ayotte (R) | Cinde Warmington (D) |
| New Mexico | Deb Haaland (D) | Greggory Hull (R) |
| New York | Kathy Hochul (D) | Bruce Blakeman (R) |
| Ohio | Amy Acton (D) | Vivek Ramaswamy (R) |
| Oklahoma | Mike Mazzei (R) | Cyndi Munson (D) |
| Oregon | Tina Kotek (D) | Christine Drazan (R) |
| Pennsylvania | Josh Shapiro (D) | Stacy Garrity (R) |
| Rhode Island | Helena Foulkes (D) | Kenneth Block (I) |
| South Carolina | Alan Wilson (R) | Jermaine Johnson (D) |
| South Dakota | Larry Rhoden (R) | Dan Ahlers (D) |
| Tennessee | Marsha Blackburn (R) | Jerri Green (D) |
| Texas | Gina Hinojosa (D) | Greg Abbott (R) |
| Vermont | Phil Scott (R) | Amanda Janoo (D) |
| Wisconsin | David Crowley (D) | Tom Tiffany (R) |
| Wyoming | Eric Barlow (R) | Rebecca Bextel (Other) |
Alaska's gubernatorial election remained undecided, with Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins leading a field that included Republican Bernadette Wilson.
In Kansas, Democrat Cindy Holscher held a narrow lead over Republican Ty Masterson. The margin was approximately half a percentage point, with most votes reported.
Where to Find Every House Election Result
All 435 voting seats in the House were up for election, and several dozen races had not been called in the latest verified count.
Readers can search for their congressional district, candidate and individual race results through the 2026 U.S. Midterm Election Results tracker, which uses Associated Press election data.
The full Senate results and governor results are also available through Fox News.
What the Election Means for 2028
Republicans have suffered one of their most damaging election nights in years.
Losing Congress was bad enough. Losing seats in states such as Texas, Kansas and South Carolina made the result considerably more difficult to dismiss as an ordinary midterm setback.
But Democrats shouldn't assume the results guarantee them victory in 2028.
The same voters who punished Republicans over high prices, government accountability and the direction of the country could turn against Democrats if they believe little has improved.
For Republicans, rebuilding will require more than simply choosing new candidates. They'll have to decide which parts of Trump's political approach remain effective and what needs to change.
For Democrats, the immediate challenge is turning control of Congress into something voters can actually see.
The 2026 midterms settled who controls Congress for the next two years. They also made the battle for the White House in 2028 considerably more interesting.
Election results reflect the latest verified November 4, 2026 reporting snapshot, U.S. Eastern Time. Projected winners are not necessarily certified. Outstanding races, vote totals and party counts may change.
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