The Democratic Party had significant gains in the 2026 midterm elections, winning control of both chambers of Congress and making advances in severally traditionally-Republican states. The elections also produced historic firsts across the country. As of Nov. 5, election results remain unofficial and are subject to certification.
Democratic Gains in Traditionally Republican States
For the first time in decades, Democrats won both Texas’ gubernatorial election and the U.S. Senate elections. Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race, becoming the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Texas since 1988. Democrat Gina Hinojosa also defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, becoming the state’s first Latina governor and its first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995. Republicans maintain control of the state’s Senate.
Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated Republican incumbent Roger Marshall in Kansas’ U.S. Senate race, becoming the state’s first Democrat elected to the senate since 1932.
Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race. Graham had been appointed to the seat following the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. Andrews became the state’s first woman elected to represent South Carolina in the senate and the state’s first Democratic senator since 2005.
Democrat Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn in Iowa’s gubernational race, making him Iowa’s first Democratic governor since 2006. With Republican Sen. Joni Ernst choosing not to seek reelection, Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson for the Senate seat. Turek became the first Democrat to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate since Tom Harkin left office in 2015.
Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, becoming Ohio’s first woman elected governor and its first Democratic governor since Ted Strickland left office in 2011. Democrat Sherrod Brown returned to senate after losing his 2024 reelection campaign, defeating Republican incumbent Jon Husted.
Historic Firsts
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson in Georgia’s gubernatorial race, becoming the first Black woman elected as governor in the United States.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, becoming the first Muslim elected to U.S. Senate.
New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas defeated former Republican Sen. John Sununu, becoming the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate.
Minnesota Democrat Peggy Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya in the U.S. Senate race, becoming the first Native American woman elected to the Senate.
Democrat Juliana Stratton of Illinois defeated Republican Don Tracy in the U.S. Senate race. She will join Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland. For the first time in U.S. history, three black women will serve concurrently in the Senate.
Democratic House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become the first Black Speaker of the House. Jeffries, the first Black politician to lead a major party in Congress, must still be formally elected by the full house in January.
Democrat Deb Haaland, a former U.S. representative from New Mexico and former U.S. interior secretary, defeated Republican Gregg Hull in New Mexico’s gubernatorial race. She will become the first Native American woman elected governor in the U.S.
Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida’s gubernatorial race, becoming Florida’s first Black governor.
Democrat Aaron Ford defeated Republican incumbent Gov. Joe Lombardo in Nevada’s gubernatorial race, becoming the state’s first Black governor.
Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race, becoming the state’s first Black governor.
Democrat Amy Klobuchar defeated Republican Lisa Demuth, the Minnesota House Speaker, in the gubernatorial race. Klobuchar will become the first woman to serve as Minnesota governor.
Republican Marsha Blackburn will succeed Republican Gov. Bill Lee in Tennessee, becoming the state’s first woman governor.
Democrat Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Ethiopian immigrant, will be the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress. She will represent Colorado’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House.
Pennsylvania Results
For the first time since 1993, Pennsylvania will have a Democratic trifecta, with Democrats controlling the governor’s office and both chambers of the state Legislature.
The state Senate, which Republican have controlled since 1994, flipped to Democratic control. Democrats flipped four Republican-held seats, giving them a 26-24 majority.
In the state House, Democrats secured at least 111 of the chamber’s 203 seats, compared with 88 Republicans. Four races remain uncalled as of Nov. 5. Democrats flipped eight Republican-held seats.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro won reelection, defeating Republican Stacy Garrity. Shapiro received approximately 60.4% of the vote, compared with Garrity’s 38.3%, winning by approximately 22 percentage points. He will begin his second term in January with Democratic majorities in both chambers.
Local Results
As of 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2026, Butler County received a total of 17,959 mail-in and absentee ballots.
Republican incumbent Mike Kelly of Butler County defeated Democrat Justin Wagner in Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District, receiving approximately 53.9% of the vote.
Republican Scott Timko defeated Democratic incumbent Brandon Dukes in Pennsylvania’s 12th Legislative District by 575 votes. The result was a rematch of the August special election, which Dukes had won by fewer than 100 votes.
