Democrats have retaken the Senate after needing a net gain of four seats, while Michigan and Alaska remain uncalled.
Tamrah News Desk | November 4, 2026
Democrats win Senate majority in the 2026 midterm elections, retaking control of the chamber from Republicans, according to the Associated Press. The AP reported late Tuesday that voters delivered a rebuke of Republican control in Washington, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats to take the majority.
Forbes reported that the AP called the chamber after Democrat Josh Turek beat Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa. At that point, Democrats had won 52 Senate contests to 39 for Republicans. NBC News later showed 53 Democratic seats and 41 Republican seats, with six races still uncalled.
How Many Senate Seats Have Democrats Won?
NBC News counted seven seats flipped from Republican to Democratic, a net gain of seven. Thirty five seats were up for election this year, according to NBC. Newsweek reported that Democrats needed 51 seats, because Vice President JD Vance would cast the deciding vote in a 50 to 50 split.
Which Senate Seats Flipped in the 2026 Senate Election Results?
CBS News projected Democratic pickups in Texas, South Carolina, Kansas, Maine, Iowa, Ohio and North Carolina. Variety reported that Roy Cooper beat Michael Whatley in North Carolina and Annie Andrews won in South Carolina. It added that Adam Hamilton became Kansas’s first Democratic senator in almost 90 years.
NPR reported that Sherrod Brown defeated Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio after Trump and Vance held events in the state during the final month. The AP said Maine Sen. Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson, though the AP had not yet called that race when it published.
Texas Senate Race: Talarico Defeats Paxton
The Washington Post reported that state Rep. James Talarico beat Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, ending a long Democratic drought in Texas. Yahoo News quoted Talarico telling supporters, “Tonight we defeated Goliath.” NBC showed him ahead 54.9 percent to 43.2 percent with 86.5 percent of votes counted.
Michigan Senate Race and Alaska Still Undecided
NBC News showed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed leading Republican Mike Rogers 51.8 percent to 46.2 percent with 75.9 percent counted, and described the Michigan Senate race as leaning Democratic. CBS News rated it likely Democratic. NBC reported that Rogers told supporters there is still a path to victory.
In Alaska, NBC showed Democrat Mary Peltola ahead of Sen. Dan Sullivan 54.1 percent to 42.8 percent, with only 21.6 percent counted. Neither race had been called when NBC last updated.
Will Chuck Schumer Become Majority Leader?
The Hill reported that Chuck Schumer is expected to be elected majority leader when Senate Democrats hold leadership elections in early December. It noted that some senators elect, including Juliana Stratton of Illinois, have threatened not to support him.
What Senate Control Means for Trump
The AP said Democratic Senate control will reshape Trump’s final two years and likely limit his agenda, including his hopes for the Supreme Court. Trump has promised to use his veto power, the AP reported, which raises the prospect of gridlock.
The Hill reported that a Republican source estimated Senate Majority Leader John Thune and allied groups spent nearly three quarters of a billion dollars to defend the majority. It also reported that Republican aligned groups spent more than $91 million against El-Sayed and more than $55 million against Jackson.
House Count Differs Between Outlets
NBC News reported that Democrats won a House majority earlier in the night. Yahoo News described the House as still undecided. Readers should check the latest official tallies for the final House count.
Conclusion
The 2026 midterm election results show Democrats win Senate majority after a wave of upsets in states Trump carried in 2024. Several outlets differ slightly on the exact seat count while the last races are counted. Readers following Senate control, the Michigan Senate race, the Texas Senate race, Senate seats flipped and the Chuck Schumer majority leader vote can return to Tamrah News for updates. Related coverage: [INTERNAL LINK: Tamrah News US politics page] and [INTERNAL LINK: Tamrah News midterm elections page].
