The Democratic Party has won control of both chambers of the US Congress in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, dealing a major setback to President Donald Trump and the Republicans. Democrats secured a House majority and flipped at least seven Republican-held Senate seats, including victories in states that had supported Republican candidates for decades. The election also brought Democratic gains in governor’s races across the country.
Although the balance of power in Congress is decided, vote counting continues in several districts and states. The figures below reflect races called by major news organizations, not final certified totals.
2026 US Midterm Election Seat Results
All 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives were contested. In the Senate, voters chose candidates in 35 races, comprising 33 regular elections and two special elections. Thirty-six states also held gubernatorial contests. The results snapshot shows the following party totals:
| Contest | Democrats* | Republicans | Uncalled |
| US House (435) | 228 | 139 | 68 |
| US Senate (100) | 54 | 44 | 2 |
| Governorships (50) | 28 | 20 | 2 |
*Senate Democratic total includes two aligned independents. The House counts are for called races; Senate and governor counts include seats not on the 2026 ballot.
How Democrats Won the House of Representatives
Democrats crossed the 218-seat threshold needed to control the 435-member House. At the time of the count, 228 Democratic candidates and 139 Republicans had been declared winners, leaving 68 districts uncalled. Those figures do not represent the parties’ eventual final totals.
Democrats flipped at least 25 Republican-held seats. Their gains reached competitive districts in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Arizona and Texas, as well as areas that Trump carried in the 2024 presidential election. Among the notable Democratic winners were Janelle Stelson in Pennsylvania’s 10th District, Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsin’s 3rd District and Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa’s 3rd District. Republicans entered the election controlling the House but could not prevent a broad loss of seats.
Senate Results: Seven Republican Seats Flip
The Senate result was another major Democratic victory. Democrats and two independents who align with them held a combined 54 seats, compared with 44 for Republicans, with two Senate contests still uncalled. This is the composition of the full 100-seat Senate, not the number of seats elected in 2026.
Democrats won Republican-held Senate seats in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina. In Texas, James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton. Kansas elected Adam Hamilton over incumbent Roger Marshall, its first Democratic senator since 1932. Former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper defeated Michael Whatley, while Sherrod Brown defeated Republican Jon Husted in Ohio.
Other major victories included Josh Turek over Ashley Hinson in Iowa, Troy Jackson over longtime Republican senator Susan Collins in Maine and Annie Andrews over Darline Graham in South Carolina. Democrats also retained key seats: Jon Ossoff won reelection in Georgia, and Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
Governor Elections Bring Further Democratic Gains
Democrats also gained ground in state governments. With two gubernatorial races unresolved, the party held 28 governorships nationwide, compared with 20 for Republicans. Democratic candidates flipped Republican-held offices in Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Nevada.
In Texas, Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican governor Greg Abbott. Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio, Keisha Lance Bottoms won in Georgia, Rob Sand prevailed in Iowa and Aaron Ford won in Nevada. Republicans nevertheless retained important offices, including Florida, where Byron Donalds won the governor’s race.
Why Republicans Lost Ground
The economy dominated voters’ concerns. Rising prices for food, fuel, housing and other essentials, together with the war involving Iran, weighed heavily on the president’s party. An Associated Press voter survey found that about eight in ten voters had experienced at least moderate financial hardship from inflation, while many wanted Congress to place stronger checks on presidential power.
The results also demonstrated limits to Trump’s influence over Republican candidates. Several candidates he endorsed lost high-profile races, particularly in Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina. Democrats won support from moderate voters while emphasizing living costs, government accountability and dissatisfaction with the administration.
What Happens Next?
Democratic control of the House and Senate will change the balance of power in Washington when the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2027. Democrats will be able to advance their own legislative priorities, conduct congressional investigations and block or challenge major White House proposals and presidential nominees. Republican President Trump will still retain the executive powers of his office.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is positioned to become the first Black speaker of the House, although representatives must formally elect him. Republicans, meanwhile, face decisions about their congressional leadership after Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly decided not to seek the House minority leadership position.
Two Senate elections, in Alaska and Mississippi, remain unresolved, along with dozens of House districts. Final seat totals may therefore increase for either party. However, the central result is settled: Democrats have regained both chambers of Congress and will shape the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
Satyakam is a seasoned professional content writer with over 15 years of experience in creating high-quality, research-driven content for digital platforms. He specialises in business, finance, banking, law, technology, and informational blogs.
