# U.S. Midterms 2026: Democrats Win the Senate and Are Projected to Retake the House

> MKNIRALO — World — U.S. MIDTERMS / CONTROL OF CONGRESS

- Published: 2026-11-04
- Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
- Byline: Mira Vale — Current Affairs Observer
- Byline disclosure: Mira Vale is a house editorial byline maintained by MKNIRALO, not a claim of an independently verified individual. It does not imply personal reporting access, legal expertise or professional credentials.
- Author profile: https://mkniralo.com/authors/mira-vale/
- Tags: United States, 2026 Midterm Elections, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Congress, Election Results, Democratic Party, Republican Party
- Cover image: https://mkniralo.com/images/us-midterms-congress-results-2026.svg

Democrats have won control of the Senate after seven Republican-held seats changed hands. NBC and CNN project a Democratic House majority, although the Associated Press has not yet called control of the lower chamber.

The 2026 U.S. midterm elections have produced a major shift in congressional power. Democrats have won control of the Senate, ending Republican control of the chamber, while NBC News and CNN project that Democrats will also take the House of Representatives. The distinction between those two outcomes matters: the Senate result has been called by the Associated Press, but the House majority remains a media projection rather than an AP-declared result. A series of unexpected victories in traditionally Republican states has driven the shift, including Texas and South Carolina. Other races have delivered Democratic holds, concessions and gubernatorial victories that should not be confused with congressional seat changes.

## Two chambers, two different levels of certainty

The clearest congressional result is the Senate. The Associated Press reported that Democrats had won control of the 100-member chamber after flipping seven Republican-held seats. The victories reached beyond the states normally associated with competitive national elections, including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina. North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa and Maine also changed hands.

The House presents a different reporting position. NBC News and CNN projected that Democrats would win control of the chamber, and Reuters reported that U.S. media had projected a Democratic majority. The Associated Press, however, had not yet called control of the House. AP does not use a statistical model to predict which party will control a chamber; it waits until no plausible outcome would allow the trailing side to catch up. The accurate description is therefore a Democratic Senate victory and a projected Democratic House majority.

Sources:
- [The Latest: Voters hand Democrats Senate control in sharp rebuke to Trump's power](https://apnews.com/article/ef6199e25927a9ac9f4c18eae0e497cd) — Associated Press
- [When will we know who controls Congress? Even with Senate going to Democrats, it's still unclear](https://apnews.com/article/when-ap-calls-congress-control-9dae62cdd7d776a20a26eab6fbd9b12c) — Associated Press
- [Democrats win control of the House of Representatives](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/elections/democrats-win-house-of-representatives-2026/6567328/) — NBC News
- [Takeaways from the midterms: Americans broadly rejected Trump — and Democrats stand to make huge gains because of it](https://abc17news.com/politics/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/11/03/takeaways-from-the-midterms-americans-broadly-rejected-trump-and-democrats-stand-to-make-huge-gains-because-of-it/) — CNN via ABC17 News
- [Democrats projected to win majority control of US House, US media project](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-projected-win-majority-control-us-house-us-media-project-2026-11-04/) — Reuters

## Seven Senate seats changed hands

The Associated Press reported seven Republican-held Senate seats moving to Democrats: Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa and Maine. These victories were central to the party's successful effort to take control of the upper chamber. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson in the open-seat contest. Kansas also delivered a historic result, with Democrat Adam Hamilton winning a Senate seat for his party for the first time since 1932.

The geographical spread matters more than any single campaign. Democrats made gains in states that had supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, while also defending important seats elsewhere. These results establish a change in Senate control, but they do not mean that every high-profile Democratic victory reported on election night was a congressional seat flip. Several important contests were for state governors or other offices.

Sources:
- [The Latest: Voters hand Democrats Senate control in sharp rebuke to Trump's power](https://apnews.com/article/ef6199e25927a9ac9f4c18eae0e497cd) — Associated Press

## Texas: James Talarico defeats Ken Paxton

Democrat James Talarico won the Texas U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican Ken Paxton, according to the Associated Press. The victory gave Democrats a Senate seat in a state that had long been a Republican stronghold in statewide federal elections. Paxton conceded and said he would be praying for Talarico to do good for Texas and the nation.

The result was one of the most consequential Senate outcomes of the night. It also demonstrated that the Republican advantage in a traditionally conservative state was not sufficient to protect the incumbent party's position in this election. The AP race call confirms the winner; the state's formal canvassing and certification remain separate administrative stages.

Sources:
- [The Latest: Voters hand Democrats Senate control in sharp rebuke to Trump's power](https://apnews.com/article/ef6199e25927a9ac9f4c18eae0e497cd) — Associated Press
- [Democrat James Talarico wins election to U.S. Senate from Texas](https://apnews.com/article/a83aaba344fe45c59299da1ee30c8b7f) — Associated Press

## Georgia, Maine and South Carolina: three different outcomes

Georgia delivered a Democratic hold rather than a party flip. Senator Jon Ossoff won reelection to a second term, defeating Republican Representative Mike Collins. The Associated Press declared Ossoff the winner. His victory protected a Democratic seat in a state that had been a major Republican target during the campaign.

In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Senator Susan Collins, ending her campaign for a sixth term. Collins conceded early on November 4, and the Associated Press subsequently called the race for Jackson.

In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham, according to CBS News' election projection. Darline Graham was appointed to serve out the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham's Senate term after his death earlier in 2026. It was Darline Graham, not Lindsey Graham, who appeared on the November ballot. The result represented a major Democratic pickup in a state that had strongly supported Trump in 2024.

Sources:
- [The Latest: Voters hand Democrats Senate control in sharp rebuke to Trump's power](https://apnews.com/article/ef6199e25927a9ac9f4c18eae0e497cd) — Associated Press
- [Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff wins reelection, defeating Rep. Mike Collins to hold a key Democratic seat](https://www.opb.org/article/2026/11/03/georgia-sen-jon-ossoff-wins-reelection-defeating-rep-mike-collins-to-hold-a-key-democratic-seat/) — Associated Press via OPB
- [Annie Andrews wins South Carolina 2026 Senate election, flipping seat for Democrats](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-carolina-2026-senate-annie-andrews-darline-graham/) — CBS News
- [Troy Jackson wins Maine Senate race over Susan Collins, in major coup for Democrats](https://www.whro.org/2026-11-04/troy-jackson-wins-maine-senate-race-over-susan-collins-in-major-coup-for-democrats) — WHRO (NPR)

## Ohio: Amy Acton's victory was a gubernatorial result

Ohio produced another nationally significant Democratic victory when Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the race for governor. The Associated Press declared Acton the winner. She became the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office since 2006, ending a long period of Republican control.

This result must be kept separate from the Senate contest. Acton's victory changed the state's governorship, not its congressional delegation. Ohio also experienced a Democratic Senate pickup, with Sherrod Brown defeating Republican incumbent Jon Husted. Taken together, the two contests demonstrate the scale of the Democratic gains in the state without treating two different offices as a single result.

Sources:
- [The Latest: Voters hand Democrats Senate control in sharp rebuke to Trump's power](https://apnews.com/article/ef6199e25927a9ac9f4c18eae0e497cd) — Associated Press
- [Democrat Amy Acton defeats Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio governor's race](https://apnews.com/article/ee7b1860b0b8905c55df27318755f7e3) — Associated Press

## What control of Congress changes next

The projected House majority would give Democrats control of the chamber's committees, its legislative agenda and its oversight machinery when the new Congress takes office on January 3, 2027. A House majority can hold hearings, conduct investigations and issue subpoenas through its committees. The Senate result separately changes the chamber's leadership, committee structure and role in considering presidential nominations.

The final House seat total remains subject to ongoing vote counting and race calls. The 218-seat threshold determines a House majority, and the AP's decision not to call the chamber should remain visible alongside the NBC and CNN projections. The election has produced a clear Democratic Senate victory and a projected Democratic House takeover. The eventual margin, certification of individual races and the practical consequences for legislation remain matters to follow rather than results to assume.

Sources:
- [When will we know who controls Congress? Even with Senate going to Democrats, it's still unclear](https://apnews.com/article/when-ap-calls-congress-control-9dae62cdd7d776a20a26eab6fbd9b12c) — Associated Press
- [Democrats win control of the House of Representatives](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/elections/democrats-win-house-of-representatives-2026/6567328/) — NBC News
- [Takeaways from the midterms: Americans broadly rejected Trump — and Democrats stand to make huge gains because of it](https://abc17news.com/politics/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/11/03/takeaways-from-the-midterms-americans-broadly-rejected-trump-and-democrats-stand-to-make-huge-gains-because-of-it/) — CNN via ABC17 News
- [Democrats projected to win majority control of US House, US media project](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-projected-win-majority-control-us-house-us-media-project-2026-11-04/) — Reuters

## About this article

This article reflects the public sources available on the publication and update dates shown above. For developing stories, follow the linked source pages for subsequent statements or decisions.

## Sources and further reading

- [The Latest: Voters hand Democrats Senate control in sharp rebuke to Trump's power](https://apnews.com/article/ef6199e25927a9ac9f4c18eae0e497cd) — Associated Press (published 2026-11-04) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [When will we know who controls Congress? Even with Senate going to Democrats, it's still unclear](https://apnews.com/article/when-ap-calls-congress-control-9dae62cdd7d776a20a26eab6fbd9b12c) — Associated Press (published 2026-11-04) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [Democrats win control of the House of Representatives](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/elections/democrats-win-house-of-representatives-2026/6567328/) — NBC News (published 2026-11-04) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [Takeaways from the midterms: Americans broadly rejected Trump — and Democrats stand to make huge gains because of it](https://abc17news.com/politics/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/11/03/takeaways-from-the-midterms-americans-broadly-rejected-trump-and-democrats-stand-to-make-huge-gains-because-of-it/) — CNN via ABC17 News (published 2026-11-03) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [Democrats projected to win majority control of US House, US media project](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-projected-win-majority-control-us-house-us-media-project-2026-11-04/) — Reuters (published 2026-11-04) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [Democrat James Talarico wins election to U.S. Senate from Texas](https://apnews.com/article/a83aaba344fe45c59299da1ee30c8b7f) — Associated Press (published 2026-11-04) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff wins reelection, defeating Rep. Mike Collins to hold a key Democratic seat](https://www.opb.org/article/2026/11/03/georgia-sen-jon-ossoff-wins-reelection-defeating-rep-mike-collins-to-hold-a-key-democratic-seat/) — Associated Press via OPB (published 2026-11-04) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [Annie Andrews wins South Carolina 2026 Senate election, flipping seat for Democrats](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-carolina-2026-senate-annie-andrews-darline-graham/) — CBS News (published 2026-11-03) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [Democrat Amy Acton defeats Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio governor's race](https://apnews.com/article/ee7b1860b0b8905c55df27318755f7e3) — Associated Press (published 2026-11-03) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- [Troy Jackson wins Maine Senate race over Susan Collins, in major coup for Democrats](https://www.whro.org/2026-11-04/troy-jackson-wins-maine-senate-race-over-susan-collins-in-major-coup-for-democrats) — WHRO (NPR) (published 2026-11-04) (accessed 2026-11-04)