In a sweeping midterm result, the Democratic Party has reclaimed full control of the United States Congress, winning majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives following the November 3, 2026 elections, according to the Associated Press.
Senate Flips to Democrats After Seven Republican Seats Lost
The Associated Press declared the Senate majority for Democrats late Tuesday night. Democrats required a net gain of four seats to take the chamber and ultimately exceeded that threshold, flipping seven Republican-held seats, AP results showed.
Among the notable Senate flips, Josh Turek defeated Representative Ashley Hinson in Iowa, and Adam Hamilton unseated Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas — a seat Axios described as the longest-held Republican Senate seat in the country. In Texas, James Talarico beat Ken Paxton, while Annie Andrews won over Darline Graham in South Carolina.
Former Senator Sherrod Brown reclaimed Ohio's seat by ousting Senator Jon Husted. Former Governor Roy Cooper captured an open seat in North Carolina. In Maine, Senator Susan Collins conceded her race to Democrat Troy Jackson.
Democrats also successfully defended their existing seats. Senator Jon Ossoff won reelection in Georgia, defeating Republican Representative Mike Collins. Abdul El-Sayed claimed Michigan's open Senate seat for the party.
Two Senate Contests Remain Undecided
As of early Wednesday, two Senate races had yet to be called. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom and Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith were deadlocked at 48.9 percent apiece with roughly 97 percent of expected votes counted, NBC News reported. NBC News also listed Alaska as uncalled, with Republican Senator Dan Sullivan holding a narrow advantage over Democrat Mary Peltola.
House Majority Called for Democrats With Roughly 255 Projected Seats
The House majority was confirmed at approximately 2:40 a.m. Eastern Time on November 4, 2026, according to the Associated Press. Republicans had entered the election holding 218 seats to the Democrats' 214, making a net gain of three seats sufficient for the Democrats to claim control. NBC News projected the party would finish with around 255 House seats — well above the 218-seat threshold needed — though final counts remained in progress.
The first House seat flipped on election night came in North Carolina's 11th District, where Democrat Jamie Ager defeated Republican Jennifer Capps Balkcom.
Governorships Also Shift in Texas, Iowa, and Ohio
Beyond congressional races, Democrats picked up governorships in several states that had previously been under Republican control. Gina Hinojosa unseated Governor Greg Abbott in Texas, making her the state's first Democratic governor in 35 years, according to The Washington Post. Democrats Rob Sand in Iowa and Amy Acton in Ohio also claimed their respective gubernatorial contests.
Republicans, meanwhile, held onto governorships in Florida, where Byron Donalds won, as well as in Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, and New Hampshire, where Governor Kelly Ayotte was reelected.
House Control Grants Democrats Oversight and Subpoena Authority
With majority control of the House, Democrats gain authority over congressional committees, including the power to issue subpoenas and launch oversight investigations into the Trump administration, NBC News reported. Time noted that a single party winning both congressional chambers in a midterm election has happened only a few times since World War II.
AP Points to Prices, Iran War, and Corruption Concerns as Voter Drivers
The Associated Press reported that the election results reflected widespread voter frustration over elevated prices, the ongoing war in Iran, and concerns surrounding government corruption. In an interview on Fox News, President Trump offered congratulations to Democrats on their victories while stating he did not consider the outcome a repudiation of his presidency.
Source: Associated Press