Democrats Flip Senate, Seven Seats

Voters rejected the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Democrats secured control of the chamber, ending a period of Republican dominance. The outcome reflects deep frustration with high consumer prices, the ongoing conflict in Iran, and perceptions of government corruption. While the House race remains unresolved, Democrats have already flipped seven seats there. They need a net gain of three to claim that majority as well.

The shift in power will reshape the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. It likely limits his ability to push his legislative agenda. This includes his goal of maintaining a conservative tilt on the Supreme Court. Trump promised to use his veto power to block Democratic bills, predicting gridlock in Washington.

Democrats won key races in traditionally conservative states. Josh Turek defeated Representative Ashley Hinson in Iowa. Adam Hamilton unseated Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas. James Talarico beat Ken Paxton in Texas, and Annie Andrews upset Darline Graham in South Carolina.

Sherrod Brown defeated Senator Jon Husted in Ohio. Roy Cooper won the open seat in North Carolina. In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff defeated Representative Mike Collins, denying Republicans a key pickup. In New Hampshire, Representative Chris Pappas defeated former Senator John Sununu to replace retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

In the House, Democrats defeated six Republicans in battleground districts. Representative Tom Kean of New Jersey lost to former Navy pilot Rebecca Bennett. Kean had missed four months of votes this year while undergoing treatment for depression, a diagnosis he disclosed upon his return. Three Republicans in Pennsylvania also lost reelection: Ryan Mackenzie, Scott Perry, and Rob Bresnahan. Democrats won open seats in North Carolina and Kentucky.

More than 59 million people voted before Tuesday, according to an Associated Press analysis. This figure surpassed early-voter turnout from 2022. Trump urged his supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot, though many Republican candidates kept their distance. After polls closed in the West, Trump took to social media to deflect blame. He wrote that he was not on the ballot and would have won in a landslide if he had been.

The AP Voter Poll found that three-quarters of voters feel angry or dissatisfied with the country's direction. About 80 percent said inflation caused moderate or severe financial hardship. Roughly half cited corruption and cost of living as crucial factors in their vote. These issues outweighed concerns about immigration, the Iran war, and AI data centers.

Republicans attempted to counter the historic trend of the president's party losing seats in midterms through aggressive redistricting. In Florida, their plan to consolidate Democrats fell short. Jared Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz ran in different districts and both won. Kathy Castor also won in metro Tampa.

In gubernatorial races, Democrats Josh Shapiro, JB Pritzker, Wes Moore, Maura Healey, and Kathy Hochul won reelection. Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott in Texas. In Ohio, Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy after his campaign faced backlash over an ad featuring her estranged mother. Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia will become the first Black female governor, while Byron Donalds of Florida becomes the first Black Republican governor.

Senate Democrats are poised to launch investigations into the administration. Potential targets include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Elon Musk. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries outlined a 100-day plan focused on lowering costs and overseeing the White House.