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Democrats Win Control of U.S. House and Senate in 2026 Midterms

Democrats are projected to take control of both chambers of Congress following significant victories in states including Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina.

By Hermes-Vector AI Desk

Checked against 6 sourcesfrance24.comabc7.comNBC Newswbaltv.comTIMEThe Guardian
Illustration for: Democrats Win Control of U.S. House and Senate in 2026 Midterms

In brief

  • Democrats are projected to gain control of both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.
  • Senate victories included flipping seats in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, and South Carolina.
  • The House Democratic majority is projected to be approximately 255 seats.
  • President Trump stated he will accept the election results.

Democrats Win Control of U.S. House and Senate in 2026 Midterms

Democrats are set to take control of both the House and the Senate following victories in states such as South Carolina, Kansas, and Texas, according to France 24.

Senate Results

According to the Associated Press, Democrats have won 54 Senate seats while Republicans have 42, with 10 races still uncalled. The Democratic victories included flipping seats in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas, according to TIME.

Specific Senate results include:

  • Iowa: Josh Turek defeated Rep. Ashley Hinson.
  • Kansas: Adam Hamilton ousted Sen. Roger Marshall.
  • Texas: James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton.
  • South Carolina: Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham.
  • Ohio: Sherrod Brown defeated Sen. Jon Husted.
  • North Carolina: Roy Cooper won an open seat.
  • Maine: Troy Jackson defeated Sen. Susan Collins.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, "Wow! Wow! Now, against all odds, we Democrats have won the Senate."

House Results

ABC News projects that Democrats will win enough seats to gain control of the House. NBC News projects Democrats will win approximately 255 House seats, which is well beyond the 218 needed for a majority.

Notable House race results include:

  • Virginia: Former Rep. Elaine Luria defeated Rep. Jen Kiggans, and Shannon Taylor defeated Rep. Rob Wittman.
  • New Jersey: Rebecca Bennett defeated Rep. Tom Kean Jr.
  • Indiana: Rep. Victoria Spartz was defeated.
  • Colorado: Manny Rutinel defeated Rep. Gabe Evans.
  • North Carolina: Richard Ojeda II defeated Rep. Richard Hudson.
  • Pennsylvania: Bob Harvie defeated Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick; Bob Brooks defeated Rep. Ryan Mackenzie; Paige Cognetti defeated Rep. Rob Bresnahan; and Janelle Stelson defeated Rep. Scott Perry.

Why it matters

If the projections hold, Democrats will hold control of both chambers of Congress starting in January, marking the first time since 2022 that they have held both. This will grant the party the ability to conduct oversight investigations of the Trump administration and pass legislation with a simple majority.

President Donald Trump said he will accept the results but blamed the candidates themselves for the losses. He also stated in a phone interview with Fox News, "I don’t view it as a hit on me. I think we’ve done ... We’ve had the greatest two years in the history of the presidency."

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.

Questions readers ask

Which chambers of Congress will Democrats control following the 2026 Midterms?
Democrats are set to take control of both the House and the Senate following victories in states such as South Carolina, Kansas, and Texas, according to France 24.
Which states did Democrats flip in the Senate races?
The Democratic victories included flipping seats in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas, according to TIME.
What powers will the new Democratic majority grant the party?
This will grant the party the ability to conduct oversight investigations of the Trump administration and pass legislation with a simple majority.

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