Chris Pappas

Democrats gained control of both chambers of the US Congress in the midterm elections held on 3 November 2026. NBC News projects a final House count of 258 seats for Democrats to 177 for Republicans, an 81-seat majority. Democrats will hold at least 54 Senate seats, with Alaska and Mississippi still unresolved, and flipped seven Senate seats from Republican control. The party also flipped Republican-held governorships in at least five states, including Texas and Georgia, and gained full control of several state governments.

Democrats regained full control of Congress in the US midterm elections held on 3 Nov, winning sweeping victories that were widely described as a historic defeat for President Donald Trump. In Texas, James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa and Bobby Pulido won their races, giving Democrats all key state offices there for the first time in 30 years. Attention has now shifted to the 2028 presidential race, where no Democrat has emerged as a clear favourite and Democrats remain divided over whether to move toward the centre or further left.

The Democratic Party now holds 54 seats in the Senate and 228 seats in the House, giving it clear control of both chambers. Voters flipped four Senate seats previously held by Republicans, including a win in Texas that made James Talarico the state's first Democratic senator since 1988 and a victory in South Carolina. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa also became the first Latina governor. The Justice Department deployed about 1,000 monitors to polling places nationwide, citing election integrity as a top priority.