Democrats Flip Senate and House in 2026 Midterms: Six Surprises

Democrats have won control of the Senate and the House in the 2026 midterms, according to results reported by Fox News, ending Republican majorities and defeating a series of high-profile GOP incumbents. The party has won 54 Senate seats, flipping seven, and 228 House seats, flipping 25, with Republicans holding 139 House seats so far. The results, if confirmed, would give Democrats the power to set the congressional agenda and block or advance legislation in the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term.

What happened

The source report, published by Fox News, describes the midterms as a referendum on Trump and lists six results it calls the night’s biggest surprises:

• Maine: Democratic candidate Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger, defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins, ending her nearly three-decade Senate tenure. Collins chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee and was Maine’s longest-serving member of Congress. Jackson entered the race in July after former Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropped out following sexual assault allegations, which he denied.
• Michigan: Abdul El-Sayed, former head of the Detroit Health Department, won the swing-state Senate seat, becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate. He ran on Medicare for All and removing corporate money from politics, and campaigned with Sen. Bernie Sanders.
• Texas governor: Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa unseated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, ending more than a decade in office and 36 years of Republican control of the governor’s office. Abbott had emphasized affordability and delivered conservative priorities including a large school voucher program and property tax cuts; Hinojosa promised to end the voucher program and roll back tax breaks for data centers.
• Texas Senate: Democrat James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democratic senator from Texas in close to 40 years. Trump had endorsed Paxton ahead of the May runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
• South Carolina: Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, defeated Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom Gov. Henry McMaster had appointed to fill the remainder of her brother’s term. It is the first Democratic Senate win in the state since 1998.
• Kansas: Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, defeated first-term Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, the first Democratic Senate win in Kansas in 94 years. Marshall had said before the election that losing Kansas would make it hard for Republicans to keep the Senate.

Why it matters

Control of both chambers gives Democrats leverage over federal spending and legislation, and the scale of the Senate flips suggests the results were broad rather than isolated. The defeats of Collins, Abbott and Paxton remove figures who held significant institutional power or were closely tied to Trump, and the wins in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina show Democratic gains in states long dominated by Republicans. This suggests the midterms were shaped by voter concerns about affordability and by Trump’s role in the races, though the source does not provide vote margins or exit-poll data to confirm the causes.

Key facts at a glance

What this means for you

• Federal policy direction: With Democrats controlling both chambers, expect legislative priorities to shift toward the policies Democratic candidates campaigned on, such as Medicare for All and removing corporate money from politics, though the source does not detail what will pass.
• Texas policies: Hinojosa’s promises to end the school voucher program and roll back data-center tax breaks could affect families using vouchers and companies operating data centers in the state, if she follows through.
• Uncertainty: The source does not report final vote counts, margins, or whether any results face recounts or legal challenges, so the outcomes should be treated as reported but not yet fully confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

Did Democrats win the Senate?

Yes, according to the source, Democrats won 54 Senate seats and flipped seven, taking control from Republicans.

Who is the first Muslim elected to the Senate?

Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Senate seat, becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate, the source reports.

Did Greg Abbott lose in Texas?

Yes, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott lost his re-election bid to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, ending more than a decade in office.

Why did Troy Jackson enter the Maine Senate race?

Jackson entered in July after former Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropped out following sexual assault allegations, which Platner denied.

What to watch next

The source does not say when final results will be certified or whether any losing candidates will request recounts. It also does not detail how Democratic leaders plan to use their new majorities or which campaign promises they will prioritize.