Democrats sweep both chambers of Congress in a rebuke of Donald Trump

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, a result widely characterized as a rebuke of Donald Trump and his agenda.

The party clinched 54 seats in the Senate, past the 51 needed to reclaim the majority, and 225 House seats, well beyond the 218 required to take control of the lower chamber. The elections were viewed as a referendum on Trump’s second term, with concerns over the cost of living, inflation, and the war in Iran weighing on voter sentiment across the country.

Senate flips across the map

In Texas, James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat there since 1988. Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper flipped a Republican-held Senate seat in North Carolina, defeating Trump-backed Michael Whatley and succeeding retiring Republican Thom Tillis. In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown staged a political comeback, defeating Republican incumbent Jon Husted. Adam Hamilton won a Senate seat in Kansas, the first Democrat to do so since 1932. In Maine, progressive Troy Jackson unseated Susan Collins after her 30-year grip on the seat. Abdul El-Sayed won the Senate race in Michigan. In Georgia, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff secured reelection against Trump-backed Republican Mike Collins.

The Senate race in Mississippi was extremely close and could see a Democratic upset. The Senate contest in Alaska had not yet been called.

Historic gubernatorial wins

Democrats also made history in several gubernatorial races. Gina Hinojosa won the Texas governor’s race, unseating Republican Greg Abbott and becoming the state’s first Latina governor and the first Democrat to occupy the mansion since 1990. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governor’s race, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state. David Crowley became Wisconsin’s first Black governor. In Nevada, Aaron Ford won the governor’s race, defeating Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo and becoming the first Black person to hold the office in the state’s history. Ford’s campaign, backed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, focused on cost of living, housing affordability, and student debt.

Jeffries poised to make history as speaker

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is poised to become the first Black speaker of the House. The House will hold a floor vote for speaker when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. Jeffries was elected House minority leader in 2022 and has represented parts of Brooklyn in Congress since 2013. Before that, he served six years in the New York State Assembly. As a lawmaker, he led the effort to pass the bipartisan First Step Act, which reduced sentences for some drug crimes. As speaker, Jeffries would be second in the presidential line of succession after the vice president. “This is a change election, and we understand as House Democrats that we need to deliver dramatic change,” Jeffries said on Tuesday night. “Things are broken. We need a Congress that puts the American people first.”

Reactions and what comes next

Trump said he was “absolutely willing to accept those results” in an interview with the New York Times.