Democrats have won control of the U.S. Senate and are on the verge of retaking the House of Representatives, in a midterm result that reached deep into traditionally Republican territory, according to the Associated Press.
Six Senate seats and more than a dozen House seats have flipped to Democrats. Texas, Kansas and South Carolina elected Democratic senators for the first time in decades.
Democrats also took Senate seats in North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa and New Hampshire’s seat stayed blue, while Georgia’s Jon Ossoff won reelection.
In Maine, Republican Susan Collins reportedly called her Democratic challenger Troy Jackson to concede, though the AP had not yet called that race.
The wave also swept the governors’ races. Democrats flipped governorships in Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Texas, where Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott.
Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in the United States. Republicans held onto Florida, Tennessee, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Democratic leaders celebrated the results. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said “relief is on the way,” while House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, now poised to become speaker, called it “the great American comeback.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who won his own race, vowed Republicans would “take back” the House in 2028.
President Donald Trump sought to distance himself from the losses. He said on social media that he “wasn’t on the ballot,” and in a Fox News interview credited Democrats with running good campaigns while blaming Republican candidates.
He also told the New York Times he would accept the results and expected to “work something out” with Democrats.
The AP’s voter poll suggests most voters blame his administration for high costs and want Congress to place more checks on him.