Democrats Seize Both Chambers as Voters Reject Republican Agenda in Midterm Sweep
With control of the House and Senate projected for January, the new majority faces unresolved races in Alaska and Mississippi and a series of high-profile incumbent defeats across the Midwest and South.
By Rafael Collins ·
Voters delivered a decisive shift in congressional power on Tuesday, electing Democrats to control both the House and the Senate when the new Congress convenes in January. CBS News projects the party will hold at least 54 Senate seats and an estimated 251 to 268 House seats, a result that marks a sharp departure from the previous administration's agenda.
The Democratic sweep was most evident in competitive Senate races, where the party won 10 of 11 contests identified as battlegrounds. The outcome hinges on two unresolved races: Alaska remains a toss-up, while Mississippi is unexpectedly close, with Democrat Scott Colom leading Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by only 43 votes.
Statewide races in the South produced historic breaks for Democrats. In Texas, state lawmaker Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Abbott to become the first Democrat to lead the state since 1990. Her victory followed a campaign focused on affordability and public education. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson and Libertarian Chase Oliver to become the nation's first Black woman governor. With 99% of the vote counted, Bottoms held 54.3% of the total against Jackson's 45.7%.
Upsets continued in the Midwest and Southeast. In South Carolina, pediatrician Annie Andrews won the Senate seat previously held by the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Trump had campaigned for Graham in a state he carried by 18 points in 2024. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton, a fifth-generation resident and leader of the largest United Methodist church in the country, defeated Sen. Roger Marshall. Kansas had not elected a Democratic senator since 1932.
The defeat of Texas Attorney General Paxton by James Talarico marked the most expensive Senate race in the state's history. Talarico, a 37-year-old former teacher, campaigned on lowering costs and addressing corruption. He stated Wednesday that his win signaled to Elon Musk, who spent heavily in the race, that 'Texas is not for sale.' Paxton had previously won the Republican primary with Trump's endorsement despite a 2023 state House impeachment.
Republicans retained only one key Senate seat in their best chance for a flip. Abdul El-Sayed won in Michigan, defeating opponents who led by Trump and made anti-Muslim claims about his affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed told Fox News last month that he has 'never been a member' of the group. In Maine, Troy Jackson defeated Sen. Susan Collins, the only Republican incumbent seeking reelection in a state Kamala Harris won in 2024.
In the House, Democrats flipped dozens of seats, including competitive districts in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Incumbents ousted included Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn in Iowa; Brian Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan Jr., and Scott Perry in Pennsylvania; Brian Steil and Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin; and Max Miller and Mike Carey in Ohio. Redistricting also aided Democratic wins in California's 1st and Utah's 1st districts.
The election results leave the new Democratic leadership with a mandate to shape legislation from both chambers. The party must now manage the two unresolved Senate races and integrate the new House members into committee structures. The control of both legislative bodies sets the stage for a new legislative agenda starting in January.
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