Democrats have taken control of both chambers of Congress. The US midterm election results on November 3, 2026, ended a period of full Republican control in Washington. Republicans held the Senate 53 to 47 before voting began, and Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to flip it. They got there late on election night. President Donald Trump now faces a Congress that can block his nominees and open investigations. Your vote this week changed who writes the rules for the next two years.
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Key Points
- Democrats won the House and the Senate in the November 3, 2026 midterms.
- CNN and CBS projected the Senate flip shortly after 11:30 p.m. ET.
- NBC News counts seven Republican-held Senate seats flipped: Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.
- Trump said he will accept the results and work with Democrats.
- Speaker Mike Johnson said he was disappointed and promised to retake the House in 2028.
- Some close races were still undecided as of Wednesday morning.
How Democrats Won the Senate
The Senate map looked tough for Democrats going in. They had to defend seats in Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire while attacking Republican seats in red states. According to CNN, the network projected Democrats had won at least 51 seats to lock up the majority.
The flips came in places Republicans rarely lose. NBC News reported that Democrats took Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas from Republicans.
Several of those results stand out:
- Texas: CBS News projected that James Talarico won the Senate seat. He said Democrats had defeated Goliath that night.
- Kansas: Adam Hamilton won and will become the state’s first Democratic senator in almost 90 years, according to Variety.
- Ohio: Former Sen. Sherrod Brown beat Republican incumbent Jon Husted.
- North Carolina: Former Gov. Roy Cooper defeated Michael Whatley.
- Iowa: State Rep. Josh Turek won the open seat over Rep. Ashley Hinson.
- Maine: Republican Sen. Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson, CBS News reported.
Democrats also held ground at home. NBC News projected that Abdul El-Sayed won the Michigan Senate race, and Chris Pappas won in New Hampshire, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Democrats Take the House
The House result came first. Democrats needed a net gain of only three seats, because Republicans held a thin majority of 218 seats before the vote. CBS News reported that two seats were vacant and that Democrats held 214.
Variety reported that MS NOW called the House for Democrats just before 10 p.m. ET. The Associated Press later made the same call, according to Time.
The wins reached deep into Republican territory. PBS NewsHour reported that Democrats flipped House districts that Trump carried by as much as 18 points in 2024.
CNN reported that Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become the next Speaker. He would be the first Black man to hold the job. The final House seat count was still being tallied at the time of writing.
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Trump and Republicans React to the US Midterm Election Results
Trump spoke to several outlets as the results came in. He told The New York Times he was ready to accept the outcome. “I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” he said, as quoted by CNN.
The president also congratulated Democrats. According to The Hill, he told CBS News he looks forward to working with them. He added that he was not on the ballot and believes Republicans would have won if he had been.
Not everyone on his side saw it that way. Johnson spoke at a watch party in Shreveport, Louisiana. He said Republicans knew they were up against more than a century of midterm history. He promised to win the House back in 2028, CNN reported.
Trump praised Johnson’s work in a Politico interview but did not say whether Johnson should stay on as party leader in the House, NBC News reported.
What the Midterm Results Mean for Washington
Control of both chambers changes how Washington works starting in January. CBS News reported that Democrats will be able to block Trump’s nominees. They will also have a better chance of passing their own bills.
Trump has said he will work with Democrats. CBS News also reported that he has said he will use his veto power when needed. A bill that passes a Democratic Congress still needs his signature or enough votes to override him.
Investigations are another open question. The Hill reported that Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the incoming chair of the House Oversight Committee, sent a two-word message to Republicans: “Lawyer up.” That suggests oversight hearings are coming once the new Congress is sworn in.
Voters turned out in large numbers. CBS News reported that more than 57 million Americans had voted early before Election Day, according to the University of Florida Voting Lab.
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What Is Still Unsettled
Some races had not been called by Wednesday morning. Yahoo News reported that a few close contests remained undecided even after the Senate majority was secured. That means final seat totals in both chambers may shift by a seat or two.
Alaska is one race to watch. It uses ranked choice voting, which can take longer to count. CBS News also reported scrutiny over a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot, which drew attention before the vote.
The new Congress takes office in January. Until then, Republicans still control both chambers. Your next signal on what Congress will actually do will come from the first votes on spending and nominations.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 US midterm elections?
Democrats won both chambers of Congress. Networks including CNN, CBS News and NBC News projected the Senate flip late on November 3. The AP also called the House for Democrats.
How many seats did Democrats need to win the Senate?
Democrats needed a net gain of four seats. Republicans held the chamber 53 to 47 before the election. CNN projected Democrats had at least 51 seats when it called the race.
Which Republican-held Senate seats did Democrats flip?
NBC News lists seven flips: Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Democrats also held their own seats in places like Michigan and New Hampshire.
Will Trump accept the midterm election results?
Trump told The New York Times he is willing to accept the results. He also said he would work with Democrats. He added that he does not see the outcome as a verdict on him.
Who will be the next Speaker of the House?
CNN reported that Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become Speaker. The House vote for Speaker happens when the new Congress opens in January.
When does the new Congress start?
The new Congress begins in January. Republicans hold both chambers until then.
