Democrats Achieve Sweeping Victories in 2026 Midterms, Seizing Control of Congress from Republicans

A significant Democratic wave has reshaped the United States Congress, as a near-record number of American voters turned out to deny President Donald Trump’s Republicans their majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Preliminary estimates from the University of Florida’s Election Lab indicate that approximately 122.7 million ballots have been counted following the November 3 midterm elections. This turnout represents about 48.8 percent of the eligible population, marking the second-highest midterm voter participation in over a century, surpassed only by the 2018 elections. Al Jazeera's visual explainer details the seats flipped by Democrats, analyzes nationwide turnout, and highlights the historical milestones achieved on election night.

As of 09:00 GMT on Thursday, November 5, vote counting continues, but Democrats have secured at least 240 seats in the House and 54 in the Senate, establishing control over both chambers. Republicans have won 147 House seats and 44 in the Senate. Forty-eight House races and two Senate races, in Alaska and Mississippi, remain uncalled. Projections suggest Democrats could ultimately claim over 260 House seats and 56 Senate seats. A live results widget is available for real-time updates, with full live results accessible on a dedicated page.

Regarding voter participation, approximately 54.5 million of the 210 million registered voters had cast their ballots early by 10 am US East Coast time (15:00 GMT) on Sunday, November 1, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab. This included about 30 million in-person votes and 24 million by mail. By the close of polls on Tuesday, the total number of ballots tallied exceeded 122.7 million, with 48.76 percent of eligible voters participating.

Voter turnout varied considerably by state, with Maine leading at 65.78 percent, followed by Minnesota (65.16 percent) and Michigan (63.65 percent). West Virginia recorded the lowest turnout at 33.33 percent, followed by Oklahoma (37.08 percent) and Hawaii (37.68 percent). A map illustrates the voter turnout distribution across states.

To regain control of the Senate, Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to reach 51, the number required for a majority, given Vice President JD Vance's ability to break 50-50 ties in favor of the Republicans. They surpassed this goal, flipping seven Republican-held seats and securing at least 54 seats. Key Senate victories for Democrats included James Talarico in Texas, Roy Cooper in North Carolina, Annie Andrews in South Carolina, Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Josh Turek in Iowa, and Adam Hamilton in Kansas. Additionally, Democrats unseated Susan Collins in Maine and successfully retained all their existing seats, even with new candidates like Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.

In the 435-member House of Representatives, a majority requires 218 seats. Democrats easily surpassed this target, flipping at least 31 Republican-held districts. These gains occurred in both closely contested races and in areas where Democratic victories were less anticipated. Notable House wins include Cait Conley defeating Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th congressional district, Rebecca Bennett unseating Thomas Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s 7th, Elaine Luria defeating Jen Kiggans in Virginia’s 2nd, and Rebecca Cooke defeating Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd. In Michigan’s 4th, Democrat Sean McCann unseated eight-term incumbent Bill Huizenga.

The election also marked several historic firsts. In Texas, James Talarico's victory made him the state's first Democratic senator since 1993. Gina Hinojosa's win over Republican Governor Greg Abbott made her the state's first Latina governor and its first Democratic governor since 1994. Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since 1932, and South Carolina will have its first since 2005. These Democratic wins broke through Republican strongholds in the South and Midwest, effectively stripping the Republican party of its Senate majority with two years remaining in President Trump's term. Further historical milestones include Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate from Michigan, Chris Pappas becoming the first openly gay man elected to the Senate from New Hampshire, Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a US state from Georgia, and Deb Haaland becoming the first Native American woman elected governor from New Mexico. Hakeem Jeffries from the US House of Representatives has the potential to become the first Black speaker of the House if elected by the chamber in January.

Looking ahead, Democratic control of the House grants them the power to block Republican legislation, lead House committees, and initiate investigations into the Trump administration. However, the president retains the power to veto bills, and overriding such vetoes would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a threshold Democrats have not reached. The newly elected Congress is scheduled to convene on January 3, 2027. Until then, Republicans will maintain control of both legislative chambers.