Democrats Win Congress and Flip Republican Strongholds

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress and captured governorships in several states carried by Donald Trump in 2024, reshaping the political map in the 2026 midterm elections. The Associated Press reported that Democrats had secured 53 Senate seats and 222 House seats as Election Day ended, enough for majorities, although some races remained uncalled at that point. Democratic Senate victories included contests in Kansas, South Carolina, Texas, Iowa and Ohio. Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas, where a Democrat had not won a Senate race since 1932. In South Carolina, pediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham, marking the first Democratic Senate victory in the state since 1998. James Talarico won in Texas, Josh Turek in Iowa and Sherrod Brown in Ohio. Democrats also won the Texas and Ohio governorships. Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott in Texas, while Amy Acton won in Ohio. The party captured governorships in Georgia and Iowa as well, according to results reported as Election Day ended. In Texas, Democrats also won the lieutenant governor and attorney general races, according to the reported results....