Democrats Seize Senate in Historic Blue Wave, Flipping Seven Republican Strongholds

Democrats have won control of the US Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, flipping seven Republican-held seats in a sweeping victory that deals a major blow to President Donald Trump. The party entered Election Day uncertain about its chances of retaking the Senate. But Democrats ultimately won more seats than needed for a majority, including in traditionally Republican states such as Texas and Kansas. Some of these states had not elected a Democratic senator in more than 30 years. With two races in Mississippi and Alaska still undecided, Democrats hold at least 54 Senate seats. The party also won a majority in the House of Representatives, giving it control of both chambers of Congress. **The seven flipped Senate seats:** **Maine:** Troy Jackson (D) defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins with 53.8% of the vote. Collins had served in the Senate for 30 years. **Ohio:** Sherrod Brown (D) defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Husted with 50.0% of the vote. Democrat Amy Acton also won the governor's race, becoming Ohio's first woman elected governor. **North Carolina:** Roy Cooper (D) defeated Republican Michael Whatley with 58.7% of the vote, winning the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. The last Democratic win for this seat was in 2008. **Iowa:** Josh Turek (D) defeated Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson with 50.5% of the vote, taking the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. Iowa had not elected a Democratic senator since 2008. Democrat Rob Sand also won the governor's race. **South Carolina:** Annie Andrews (D) defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Darline Graham with 51.1% of the vote. Graham took office after her brother, Lindsey Graham, died in July. This is the first time South Carolina has elected a Democratic senator since 1998. **Texas:** James Talarico (D) defeated Republican Ken Paxton with 55.1% of the vote, flipping the seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Talarico will be the first Democratic senator from Texas since 1988. Democrat Gina Hinojosa also defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the governor's race. **Kansas:** Adam Hamilton (D) defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall with 50.9% of the vote. Kansas last elected a Democratic senator in 1932 — nearly a century ago. The results drew mixed reactions from technology leaders. Elon Musk, who spent $224 million supporting Republican campaigns in Texas, wrote on X: "Data centers in space looking pretty appealing right now." Tech investor Jason Calacanis wrote: "I never expected Texas to turn blue. Ugh, I moved here to get away from the left lunacy!" LinkedIn cofounder and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman celebrated the outcome, writing on X that the elections were "an overwhelming wave against Trump and his cronies" and that "voters rejected the status quo."