PoliticsNeuro Nov 4, 2026 - 5 min read
Democrats Win House and Senate in 2026 Midterms, CBS News Projects: Key Races, Seat Counts & What’s Next
CBS News projects Democrats won both the House and the Senate in the 2026 midterms. Here is a recap of the key races, the seat math, and what happens next for Congress.
2 assets
Democrats Win House and Senate in 2026 Midterms, CBS News Projects: Key Races, Seat Counts & What's Next
CBS News projects that Democrats will take back both chambers of Congress after the 2026 midterm elections held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. CBS describes the night as a sweeping set of victories for Democrats and a setback for Republicans, with President Trump entering his final two years in office.
These are CBS News projections. Votes are still being counted, final numbers may change, and results aren't official until certified. Check the Associated Press and your state election office for the latest.
The Big Picture
| Chamber | Before the election | CBS News projection |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. House | Republicans held a narrow majority (218 seats to Democrats' 214, per CBS) | Democrats win control |
| U.S. Senate | Republicans held 53 seats to Democrats' 47 | Democrats win control |
House
CBS News projects Democrats will take control of the House, ending the Republicans' slim four-seat majority. Democrats flipped a number of GOP-held seats and held competitive seats in battleground and unexpected places. As of early Wednesday, CBS News' estimates suggested Democrats could win about 259 seats, but CBS noted the final number could be lower. A party needs 218 for a majority.
Senate
CBS News projects Democrats won the Senate, flipping control of the upper chamber. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats. CBS said most of the seats Republicans defended were in states President Trump had won comfortably, yet Democrats scored several upset wins in red states. The size of the Democratic majority wasn't known yet. Democrats last held a Senate majority before the 2024 elections.
Key Senate Races
According to CBS News projections:
| State | Projected winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Jon Ossoff (D) | Democrats kept the seat |
| Texas | James Talarico (D) | A flip over Republican Ken Paxton; the first Democratic Senate win in Texas since 1988, and Sen. John Cornyn said "voters have spoken" |
| Minnesota | Peggy Flanagan (D) | Democrats held the seat against Michele Tafoya |
| Iowa | Josh Turek (D) | Defeated Republican Ashley Hinson |
| South Carolina | Annie Andrews (D) | Described by CBS as a major upset |
| Ohio | Sherrod Brown (D) | |
| Michigan | Abdul El-Sayed (D) | |
| Kansas | Adam Hamilton (D) | |
| North Carolina | Roy Cooper (D) | |
| Virginia | Mark Warner (D) | Won re-election |
| Florida | Ashley Moody (R) | Republicans held the seat |
| Nebraska | Pete Ricketts (R) |
This isn't a complete list of all Senate races. See AP for the full table.
Other Notable Results
- Texas governor: CBS News projected Democrat Gina Hinojosa as the winner.
- Georgia governor: CBS News projected Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms as the winner.
- Maine: CBS News projected a win for Democrat Troy Jackson.
- House: CBS projected Democrats held several battleground seats, including Michigan's 8th District, Ohio's 1st District and Texas' 34th District, while Republican Derrick Van Orden won re-election in Wisconsin's 3rd District.
How Is This Being Described?
CBS News and other outlets described the night as a sweeping set of Democratic victories, and one CBS headline noted President Trump's approval rating was at a historic low. Reactions came from both parties. Republicans such as Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. Elise Stefanik, and former Sen. Joe Manchin, commented on the results, and Trump spoke to CBS News about the outcome. Read each side's own statements for their reasoning.
Found this helpful?
If this recap saved you time, you can support our work and help us keep publishing free, up-to-date election coverage.
What Happens Next?
- Final counts: Votes are still being tallied in some races, and states certify results over the coming weeks. Close races can be recounted.
- New Congress: The new members are sworn in at the start of the next Congress in January 2027.
- Leadership: Each party chooses its leaders for the new Congress.
- Control of the agenda: The majority party controls the committee chairs, the floor schedule and the power to investigate. CBS reported that a Democratic House would effectively halt President Trump's legislative agenda for his last two years, while the Republican view is that the president retains his veto and executive powers.
Sources
- CBS News: Live 2026 midterm results
- CBS News: Democrats win majority in the Senate
- CBS News: Live House election results
- CBS News: Live Senate election results
- CBS News: Texas midterm results
- CBS News: Midterm elections 2026
- CBS News video: Recapping Democrats' massive wins
- Associated Press: Election results
- Ballotpedia: 2026 elections
FAQ
Who won the 2026 midterm elections? CBS News projects Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate.
How many seats did Democrats win in the House? CBS estimated about 259, but the final number could be lower.
How many seats did Democrats need in the Senate? A net gain of four, since Republicans held 53 seats before the election.
Who won the Texas Senate race? CBS News projects Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton.
Who won the Georgia Senate race? CBS News projects Democrat Jon Ossoff won re-election.
Are the results official? Not yet. They are projections, and states certify final results later.
Last updated: November 4, 2026. Projections and counts can change as votes are tallied. This article does not endorse any candidate or party.
#democrats-win-house-and-senate#democrats-win-midterms#democrats-win-2026-midterms#2026-midterm-election-results#2026-midterm-recap#midterm-election-results#democrats-take-control-of-senate#democrats-take-control-of-house#democrats-flip-senate#democrats-flip-house#cbs-news-projects-democrats#cbs-news-midterm-results#recapping-democrats-massive-wins#who-won-the-midterms#who-won-the-election-2026#senate-control-2026#house-control-2026#jon-ossoff-wins#james-talarico-wins#talarico-wins-texas-senate#sherrod-brown-wins#abdul-el-sayed-wins#peggy-flanagan-wins#annie-andrews-wins#roy-cooper-wins#trump-midterms#trump-last-two-years#midterm-results-what-happens-next#2026-election-results-summary
Found this useful?
Support our work with a coffee.
Share this article