Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, ending Republican control of the House and the Senate. NBC News projects Democrats will gain full control of Congress in January, which means President Donald Trump will spend his final two years in office facing a Democratic-run legislative branch. This is as of Nov. 5, 2026, and a few races are still uncalled.
The Associated Press described the outcome as a “shockingly decisive rebuke” of Republican governance in Washington. Here is what the numbers show, what is still unsettled and what changes next.
Where the House and Senate stand as of Nov. 5
Senate: Democrats took a 54-seat majority over Republicans at 44, according to NBC News, with Alaska and Mississippi still left to call. Fifty-one seats are needed for control. Republicans entered Election Day with a 53-47 edge, so Democrats needed a net gain of four seats, in part because Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote favored Republicans in a 50-50 split.
House: A party needs at least 218 seats to control the chamber. NBC News projected Democrats gaining 28 seats for a total of 258, compared with 177 for Republicans. Other outlets are more cautious. One tracker noted that 68 House races were still uncalled as of midday Wednesday, so the final margin may shift. NBC projects Democrats will start the year with their largest House majority in nearly two decades.
How Democrats flipped the Senate
Democrats flipped at least seven Senate seats in Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina. Five of those gains came in states Trump won by double digits in 2024: Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, South Carolina and Texas. Among the notable results, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine lost to Democrat Troy Jackson, and Adam Hamilton became Kansas’s first Democratic senator since 1932. Democrats also held seats in Georgia, New Hampshire and Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed won against Republican Mike Rogers, according to CBS News.
Two contests remain open. In Alaska, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan was leading Democrat Mary Peltola by 1,677 votes, with roughly 80,000 votes still to count, per NBC News. Mississippi is also uncalled. Democrats could end up with as many as 56 seats if they win both, though neither result changes who holds the majority.
What changes in Washington next
The new Congress does not take over immediately. Democrats will gain full control in January, so Republicans remain in charge until then. Once the shift happens, several changes are expected:
- Investigations. Party leaders have signaled they will use their foothold to launch investigations of top administration officials, and impeachment of Trump and Cabinet officials is “not off the table,” according to the AP. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Elon Musk were named as possible targets.
- Leadership. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, now House minority leader, is in line to become Speaker. Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek election as Republican leader when Democrats take over, according to multiple outlets.
- Legislative agenda. Jeffries has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on lowering the cost of living and aggressively overseeing the administration. On health care, Democrats say they will have leverage to push to restore enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts.
- Vetoes. Trump vowed to veto Democrat-controlled legislation. A veto can be overridden only by two-thirds of both chambers, so Democrats alone cannot pass bills over his objection, and many measures may stall.
Why voters swung
The AP said voters channeled frustration over high prices, the Iran war and concerns about government corruption. Its voter poll found about three-quarters of voters rated the economy “not so good” or “poor.” The AP also noted that the Democratic Party is not much more popular than Republicans: just under half of voters view Democrats favorably, versus about 4 in 10 for Republicans.
Trump, for his part, said he would accept the results. He told Fox News voters “didn’t like the candidates.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans “will not stand idly by” against Democratic efforts to undo their work.
Key details
| Item | Status (as of Nov. 5, 2026) |
|---|---|
| House control | Democrats; 218 seats needed for a majority |
| House projection | NBC: 258 D, 177 R; dozens of races still uncalled elsewhere |
| Senate control | Democrats; 51 seats needed |
| Senate tally | 54 D, 44 R, with Alaska and Mississippi uncalled |
| Senate seats flipped | Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina |
| Likely next Speaker | Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), pending a House vote |
| New Congress begins | January 2027 |
For official tallies, see the PBS News live results page (AP data) and the state election offices that certify results. Final numbers can change until counting and certification finish.
FAQ
Which party controls Congress after the 2026 midterms?
Democrats won both the House and the Senate. They formally take over when the new Congress is seated in January.
Who will be the next Speaker of the House?
Hakeem Jeffries is in line for the job. The full House must vote on it once the new Congress convenes.
Can Democrats impeach President Trump now?
A House majority can vote to impeach, but removal requires a two-thirds Senate vote. Democratic leaders have not ruled impeachment out, according to the AP.
Are all the results final?
No. Two Senate races (Alaska and Mississippi) and dozens of House races were uncalled as of Nov. 5. Neither chamber’s majority is in doubt, but final seat counts may change.
Discover more from NewsNation Online
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
आपके लिए सुझाव
Leave a Reply