Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections. While official seat totals in both chambers of Congress are not final, the results mean President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda will be significantly hampered during the final two years of his presidency.
As of early Wednesday morning, Democrats have captured 227 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, more than enough seats required for a majority. Republicans have won 142 seats. In the U.S. Senate, Democrats have won 53 seats while Republicans have captured 41.
Democrats kept all but one of the seats they currently hold and picked up Republican-held Senate seats in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. Democrats also picked up several governorships, giving them a majority of governorships for the first time in nearly two decades.
Here are six highlights from the 2026 midterm elections.
1. Darline Graham Nordone loses South Carolina Senate race
In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated appointed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, R-S.C. Graham Nordone was appointed to the U.S. Senate earlier this year to fill the vacancy left by the unexpected death of her brother, longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Unofficial results show Andrews capturing 51.1% of the vote to Graham Nordone’s 46.7%. The RealClearPolitics average of polls heading into the race showed Graham Nordone leading Andrews by 2.6 percentage points.
South Carolina has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980 and has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in nearly three decades.
While Graham Nordone lost, Republican Alan Wilson won the governor’s race. Unofficial results show Wilson winning 51.7% of the vote to Democrat Jermaine Johnson’s 47%, with nearly 98% of the vote counted.
Republicans also won other statewide offices in South Carolina, including secretary of state and attorney general.
2. Republicans hold on in Florida
While multiple states that backed Trump by double digits in 2024 elected Democrats to the U.S. Senate Tuesday, one state bucked the national trend: Florida. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., was elected to finish the unexpired term of former Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Moody was appointed to the seat after Rubio resigned to become secretary of state. With 99% of the vote in, unofficial results show Moody capturing 50.9% of the vote to Democrat Angie Nixon’s 48%.
Meanwhile, Democrats picked up governorships in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and Texas, but Republicans held on in Florida’s governor’s race.
With 99% of the vote in, unofficial results show Republican Byron Donalds capturing 50% of the vote to Democrat David Jolly’s 48.7%. Republicans also won other statewide races in Florida.
Outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis, who cannot run for a third term, praised the Republican ticket in an X post Tuesday.
“Florida sweeps again — congrats to the statewide ticket,” he wrote.
In addition to Donalds, DeSantis highlighted wins by Republicans James Uthmeier in the attorney general race, Blaise Ingoglia in the chief financial officer race and Wilton Simpson in the agriculture commissioner race. DeSantis acknowledged Moody’s victory in a previous X post.
3. Democrats pick up governorship, Senate seat in Texas
Florida and Texas backed Trump by about the same margin in 2024, but Democrats fared much better in Texas.
State Rep. James Talarico won the open U.S. Senate seat, becoming the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Texas in more than three decades.
Unofficial results show Talarico capturing 54% of the vote to Republican Ken Paxton’s 44.2%, with 90% of the vote counted.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term. Unofficial results show Hinojosa capturing 52.8% of the vote to Abbott’s 45.8%, with 90% of the vote counted. Republicans have held the Texas governorship since 1994, when future President George W. Bush defeated Democratic incumbent Gov. Ann Richards.
Results in several other statewide races in Texas remain too close to call, although Democrats lead in the attorney general, lieutenant governor and railroad commissioner races.
4. Megachurch pastor wins Senate seat in Kansas
Democrat Adam Hamilton, who pastors the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, defeated Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., becoming the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Kansas in nearly a century.
Unofficial results show Hamilton leading with 50.8% of the vote to Marshall’s 46.1%, with 95% of the vote counted.
"We are better together than we are divided," Hamilton told his supporters. “Kansans want Republicans and Democrats to work together to actually solve problems, to meet in the middle."
The Kansas governor’s race remains too close to call. With more than 95% of the vote counted, Democrat Cindy Holscher leads with 50.3% of the vote to Republican Ty Masterson’s 49.7%. Kansas currently has a Democratic governor, but Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited and cannot seek a third term.
5. Sen. Susan Collins loses reelection in Maine
Going into the 2026 election, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was the only Republican running for reelection in a state Trump lost three times. Collins has won several Senate races, including three in presidential election years when the Democratic nominee carried the state. But she came up short in her bid for a sixth term.
With over 81% of the vote counted, unofficial results show Democrat Troy Jackson capturing 54.1% of the vote to Collins’ 45.8%. Collins is one of four incumbent Republican senators who lost reelection this year. The others are Marshall, Graham Nordone and Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio.
Democrats also won the Maine governor’s race. With over 82% of the vote counted, unofficial results show Democrat Hannah Pingree capturing 55.5% of the vote to Republican Bobby Charles’ 36.5%.
6. Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim elected to US Senate
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is projected to defeat Republican Mike Rogers to win Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, and will become the first Muslim elected to the Senate.
Unofficial results show El-Sayed capturing 51.9% of the vote to Rogers’ 46%, with independent Lydia Christensen at 1%, as of early Wednesday morning. El-Sayed took the stage at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Detroit for his victory speech.
"Michigan, I cannot wait to serve you with the same big-heartedness, open-mindedness, grit, and earnestness that you've shown me," he said. "You welcomed me to your homes, your churches, your synagogues, your VFW and union halls."
"You shared moments of frustration and sadness and vulnerability with me," he added. "You gave me grace and strength in my lowest moments and the hope and inspiration that powered my best. I love you back."
The seat is held by outgoing Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat. Although Trump won Michigan in 2024, Republicans have not won a Senate race there since 1994.
The contest was the most expensive in state history, with more than $243 million in spending. Rogers and his outside allies outspent El-Sayed and his backers by roughly 3:2, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures.
During two debates, El-Sayed portrayed Rogers as a puppet for Trump. Rogers questioned whether El-Sayed could be trusted and tried to tie him to the Muslim Brotherhood, a tactic that many Democrats criticized as anti-Muslim rhetoric.
The win also bolsters the argument from the Democratic Party’s progressive wing that its candidates can win close races in a battleground state like Michigan.
Originally published by The Christian Post
