Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress in the November 2026 midterm elections, ending the Republican majority and setting up a period of divided government for the final two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. The results, characterized by a nationwide rejection of Donald Trump, provide the opposition with the authority to block legislation, initiate broad investigations, and challenge presidential appointments.
Democratic Gains in the Senate and House
The Democratic Party’s performance exceeded expectations in several states previously considered Republican strongholds. In Texas, James Talarico won a U.S. Senate seat, defeating an opponent backed by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Talarico declared that they had defeated Goliath
following his victory. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek scored a major upset against GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, capturing a seat in a state that has reliably elected Republicans. Meanwhile, in Maine, first-time candidate Troy Jackson, a former logger and state Senate president, defeated the longtime incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, who had been the only Republican member of Congress from New England.
The shift in power extended to the House of Representatives. In Texas’ 15th Congressional District, Democrats flipped a seat in a region that had shifted sharply toward Trump, who carried the district by 18 points in 2024. In Texas’ 35th district, deputy sheriff Johnny Garcia is projected to defeat Republican Carlos De La Cruz, overcoming a GOP mid-decade redistricting effort. In Wisconsin, Democrats successfully flipped two Republican-held House seats.
Hispanic voters are the story of 2026 The progress the GOP made with Hispanic voters over the past decade is mostly gone, and whatever is left is on probation. After shifting more than 20 points toward Republicans in 2024, they swung 27 to the left last night. It was the largest… pic.twitter.com/U4N5LFMGKl
Democrats Signal Intent to Usher in Bold Change
Following the results, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., appeared alongside House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee headquarters. Jeffries told reporters that Democrats will usher in bold, dramatic change.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., downplayed internal party tensions, stating that progressive and moderate candidates were saying the same things.
Democrats have signaled intent to reassert congressional authority over trade and tariffs and aim to force an end to the Iran war through new votes on war powers resolutions. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., issued a brief statement on election night directed at the president and his orbit: “Lawyer up.”
So the results are all in. Data center moratoria (various flavors) went 43-1. All hyperscalers must now converge on Harwood, North Dakota, the one outlier. Find out what's in the water or in the air. There is only one precinct and 400 voters, but they alone sided with you! pic.twitter.com/XtF5WPLSYY
Voters Express Frustration with Monopoly Companies and Big Industry
According to the Fox News Voter Poll, which included more than 100,000 interviews across states including South Carolina, Kansas, Alaska, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, and Texas, voters expressed deep frustration. Sara Schreiber, senior vice president of the LCV Victory Fund, noted that voters are angry at monopoly utility companies, Big Tech, and Big Oil, who are making record profits while families struggle.
Campaigns for Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa in Texas, Senate candidate Annie Andrews in South Carolina, and House candidate Will Lawrence in Michigan all made a data center moratorium a central pillar of their platforms. Economic anxiety remained a dominant theme; voters were concerned with the cost of living, including rising petrol prices, housing costs, and healthcare coverage. In California, the focus of major races, such as the Los Angeles mayoral contest involving Nithya Raman, centered on housing development.
The President’s Reaction
President Trump, who has now presided over three midterm elections (2018, 2020, and 2026) without a victory, faced internal party pressure. His own vice president, JD Vance, was reported to be brainstorming ways to distance himself from the administration’s agenda. Despite the historic collapse of his party’s standing, Trump told the New York Times he was absolutely willing to accept those results
and promised to work with the Democrats.
In a call to Fox News offered rare praise for his opponents, stating, I think the Democrats did a good job, I really do.
Ongoing Electoral Processes
The transition of power includes 435 seats in the House and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats. In Georgia, a Senate race with no majority winner is heading to a run-off on December 1. While the Fox News Voter Poll suggests a dramatic shift toward Democrats, even in solidly Republican states, final counts are still being processed. The Justice Department has provided assurances regarding reports of federal monitors asking unusual questions
in certain counties, according to the New Mexico secretary of state’s office.
One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was "composition"—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And despite polls that showed a Democrat blowout, the data kept on telling us the same story: in some states turnout was…
Earlier coverage: Democrats Poised to Make House Gains in Midterm Elections
#SCPol: "South Carolina, I know we're tired of the ads, but Democrat Annie Andrews, she's just too dangerous, radical and weird. Andrews wants men to play girls in sports." The NRSC and Darline Graham are up with a new coordinated #SCSen ad featuring Tim Scott. pic.twitter.com/w3ykgvoGHv
More on Democrats
.@scott_colom Addressing reporters Wednesday morning: “We’re going to win.” Says outstanding ballots will trend in his direction. When asked by @MSTODAYnews about Hyde-Smjth nearly declaring victory on Tuesday evening: “Bless her heart.” pic.twitter.com/jP5jk6h7AN
James Talarico’s basic diagnosis of American politics looks identical to me to that of AOC and Sanders pic.twitter.com/qeFGWPAXtu
Voter ID, caps on property taxes, and lowering income tax rates all winning 60-40 in NC…in an electorate that’s voting 60-40 for the Democrat for Senate pic.twitter.com/3T9ADB7kPx
pic.twitter.com/7ZIs1dWKFu
"Americans are signaling the beginning of the end of the Trump era." "The biggest story is non-MAGA Republicans have broken with the Republican Party," https://t.co/l7I4WZC181 pic.twitter.com/zejDWwRAwN
DEM FLIP: Democrat Christina Hines has defeated Republican Michael Bouchard Jr., flipping #MI10 blue. Trump won this district by 6 points in 2024. Congrats! pic.twitter.com/UrQk2CXMjX
Working people delivered this victory. Their priorities must drive what comes next. Every elected leader who won on a promise to lower costs and raise pay owes them action. Union members did our job. Now it’s time for Congress to do theirs.https://t.co/WD8mHP1jZI
Associated Press is calling the North Carolina US Senate race for Democrat Roy Cooper over Republican Michael Whatley. https://t.co/sJEnuNtgjc #ncpol