US midterm elections 2026 live updates: Democrats win control of Congress as voters punish Trump

Democrat James Talarico has won the US Senate race in Texas, breaking a 38-year drought for his party in the Republican stronghold and delivering a stunning blow to Donald Trump.

Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, the state attorney general and a staunch ally of the US president, in one of the most closely watched contests of the midterm elections to decide control of Congress.

“We just took back Texas!” the 37-year-old told jubilant supporters at an election night party in Austin, the state capital and his home city. “We just proved that all the money in the world is no match for the people of Texas. We have just shown that a politics of division is no match for a politics of love.”

Read more:

Nevada has elected Democrat Aaron Ford as its next governor, making him the first black person to hold the office in the state’s history.

His win toppled the Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo in a closely watched race, and delivered an important victory for the Democrats in one of the country’s key battleground states.

Ford ran his campaign with the backing of California governor Gavin Newsom and former vice-president Kamala Harris, focusing on the cost of living, housing affordability and student debt.

There’s a certain freedom in low expectations. Going in to Tuesday’s midterm elections, forecasts were so grim for the Republicans that poll watchers started trading a kind of knowing joke: that the results would either mean the end of the Trump era, or the end of the polling profession.

Amid those sorts of predictions, any Republican victories would have seemed like a minor miracle. The expectation was that Democrats would have a blowout; Republicans, counting on the final tally to be a bit more mixed, would therefore almost certainly have the freedom to claim that they’d done better than anyone had thought they would.

It will be difficult to credit those spins today. The electorate issued the president a message of dissatisfaction with the second Trump term, and voted decisively to curb his power.

Now, with a Senate majority, Democrats will be able to investigate the president and his cabinet members, draw public attention to their own agenda items, assert Congress’s constitutional prerogatives, and block Republican judicial appointments.

In the coming days and weeks, Trump will alternately say that the Republican losses were fake – the result of fraud by a nefarious but ill-defined conspiracy of Democrats and illegal immigrants – and that they were real, but somebody else’s fault.

His administration has signaled over the past weeks that it could make efforts to contest the certification of especially close Senate races, notably Alaska.

But the wind may have gone out of the sails of that plan for now: for what it’s worth, which isn’t much, Trump told the New York Times on Tuesday night that he would accept the results of the midterms. What’s certain is that he will rail into microphones and complain in all caps on social media. But it is not likely that any of that will go anywhere. Because Tuesday night – almost exactly 10 years after he won the presidency in an upset victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 – the Trump era effectively came to an end.

Read more:

Former US president Barack Obama has welcomed the midterm election results as a clear rejection of divisive politics.

In a statement on X, he said:

Tonight, the American people sent a clear message – they want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them, and leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they face.

These results were only possible because outstanding candidates stepped forward in every region of the country – including in areas once considered long shots. They came from different backgrounds and represented a range of political perspectives, but were united by shared values, a belief in public service, and a commitment to putting the people of their districts and states first.”

Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez – who has been Donald Trump’s most vociferous European critic – is celebrating last night’s results, hailing them as proof of a progressive fightback and of the “crumbling” of what he called the “ultra wave”.

“Yesterday, the American people voted against policies that only serve to impoverish people,” he posted on X. “Against hate. Against sexism. Against climate denialism and against the privileges of the elites.”

Sánchez, who faces an uphill battle to secure another term in office in Spain’s general election at the end of the month, added: “It happened in Brazil. It just happened in the US. And it will happen soon in Spain.”

The incumbent Democratic governor of Oregon, Tina Kotek, has won her re-election bid against Republican Christine Drazan.

It is the second time Kotek has defeated Drazan, after the two faced off in the 2022 governor race.

Republican senator Pete Ricketts has won his re-election bid in Nebraska, defeating independent candidate Dan Osborn.

Ricketts, a former Nebraska governor, was appointed to the Senate in 2023 to replace Republican senator Ben Sasse and won a special election in 2024 to serve the final two years of his predecessor’s term.

History was made in Michigan as Abdul El-Sayed, an Egptian American doctor, became the first Muslim ever elected to the US Senate, beating Mike Rogers for the key battleground seat.

His victory is all the more remarkable given the ugly campaign of anti-Muslim rhetoric that sought to undermine his candidacy, led by Donald Trump and his Republican allies.

The Democrat’s faith was weaponised throughout the race, with Trump calling him a “jihadist” and Rogers questioning his loyalty to the US. El-Sayed met the attacks with defiance, telling Trump that he could “just go on and call me senator after November”.

In his victory speech, El-Sayed told a jubilant crowd:

My name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, and I am so proud and honoured to stand here as your Senator-elect from the great state of Michigan.

Up until right about now, you might have noticed I always say inshallah, or God willing, whenever the outcome of this race was mentioned. But today, tonight, we can turn that inshallah into an alhamdulillah (praise be to God).”

My colleague Joseph Gedeon has more:

It’s 3am ET in Washington/8am GMT, and as people start seeing their phones ping with notifications, here are where things stand at the moment.

• Democrats have won control of Congress in a stunning rebuke of Donald Trump’s agenda, delivering an astonishing result and a widely predicted “blue wave” across the country. As of now, Democrats have clinched 54 seats in the Senate (they needed 51 to reclaim the majority) and 225 House seats (they needed 218 to take control of the lower chamber). We’re still awaiting the results for several races –namely in Alaska.

• There were several seismic and historic wins in federal and state races for Democrats. James Talarico became the first Democrat in 38 years to win a US Senate seat in Texas; Adam Hamilton is now the first Democrat to win a US Senate seat in Kansas since 1932; In Maine, progressive Troy Jackson unseated Susan Collins after a thirty-year grip on the state’s US Senate seat; and Abdul El-Sayed won the US senate race in Michigan –on of the cycle’s most closely watched competitions.

• We’re waiting on a number of nail-biting races to be called. The race for US Senate in Mississippi is extremely close, and could see a Democratic upset, and it’s still to early to call the Senate contest in Alaska.

• Demcocrats also made history in a number of gubernatorial races. Keisha Lance Bottoms’ victory in Georgia means that she will the first Black female governor in US history. Gina Hinojosa makes history as Texas’ first Latina governor, and the first Democrat to occupy the governor’s mansion since 1990. Meanwhile, David Crowley became Wisconsin’s first Black governor after winning his race tonight.

• Donald Trump said he was “absolutely willing to accept those results” in an interview with the New York Times. He added: “We’ll, you know, look forward to working with them [Democrats] … We’ll probably work something out.”

Abdul El-Sayed has won the US Senate race in Michigan, defending a Democratic seat, in one of the most closely watched competitions this midterm cycle.

El-Sayed beat former Republican congressman Mike Rogers in his bead to fill Michigan’s open Senate seat.

While El-Sayed yoked Rogers to Trump, Rogers sought to cast El-Sayed, a former public health official who ran on a platform of Medicare for All, as too extreme for Michigan.

The race was also a source of late consternation after Haley Stevens, the Democratic congresswoman who El-Sayed beat in the August primary, issued a last minute endorsement of Rogers.

Elon Musk brushed off the swathe of Republican losses in these midterm elections, by joking about his historic spending this cycle – where he spent an estimated $445m to support GOP candidates in various marquee races.

“Guess my election-interfering space lasers didn’t work this time,” Musk posted to X. The billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX was the biggest donor in these elections, dwarfing any outside spending to support Democrats.

Many Democrats have vowed to investigate Musk and his work with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which hollowed out several federal agencies, when they take control of Congress.

The Democratic Socialists of America said that more than 50 DSA candidates won their races in tonight’s midterms.

“Workers deserve more and a reality where all of us live with dignity and hope is closer than we think,” the organization wrote in a social media post. “The job’s not done, though. Tomorrow, we continue organizing, fighting, and winning for the working class!”

in Los Angeles, California

Supporters of Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass appeared hopeful the incumbent could pull off a victory over challenger Nithya Raman.

Close to 11pm, a group of attendees at a LA county Democratic Party event at Loews Hollywood Hotel were dancing as they waited for more results and chanting “four more years”. Early returns showed Bass with a narrow lead in the polls.

Bass had addressed supporters earlier in the evening, praising what she described as a critical day for the city and the country as Democrats saw huge wins across the US.

“Our country has spoken. The city is speaking,” Bass said. “Let me just say from the bottom of my heart, thank you Angelenos.”

Bass faced a tough fight for re-election given her low approval ratings and Angelenos’ broad dissatisfaction with the state of the city. While her opponent Raman, an LA city councilor and one time ally, was leading the polls for weeks, Bass made gains in recent weeks.

Democrat Melissa Gonzalo said people were feeling ecstatic about the blue wave across the US, and “cautiously optimistic” about the mayor’s race. “This is a very unique situation,” she said.

As an LA county resident she can’t vote for Bass, but has convinced friends to back the mayor. Bass cares about the city and has rectified past errors, Gonzalo said.

“I don’t feel like it’s time for someone new at this moment,” she said, particularly with the upcoming Olympics.

Kevin Garrity, another Bass supporter, was hopeful given Bass’s momentum in recent weeks.

“It’s too close to call, but if I were betting on it I would vote on Karen. She’s the best candidate. She has experience. She loves this city.”

Democrat Denise Powell has won the House race for Nebraska’s second congressional district, flipping the open seat after moderate Republican incumbent –Don Bacon –announced that he would retire.

Powell beat Republican Brinker Harding in the contest, which includes Omaha –the “blue dot” of the state. The district is only one in Nebraska that Kamala Harris won in 2024.

Donald Trump answered a phone call from Politico anchor Dasha Burns on air tonight, telling the outlet that he is open to working with Democrats.

“We’re going to work with the Democrats to make sure things go well for our country,” he said, adding “I’ve already spoken to certain leaders of the Democrat party.”

“If I think it’s not good, I’m just going to veto it,” Trump added.

Democrat Katy Padilla Stout has flipped Texas’ 23rd congressional district, beating Republican Brandon Hererra for the open seat.

Turmoil beset the race after the GOP incumbent Tony Gonzales withdrew from the race amid allegations of sexual misconduct and an investigation by the House ethics committee.

Democrats are continuing to react with enthusiasm to tonight’s election results.

“Tonight, the American people sent a clear message — they want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them, and leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they face,” former president Barack Obama wrote in a social media post. “While this administration has another two years in office, our job now is to roll up our sleeves, make changes wherever we have the power to do so, prevent further damage, and lay the groundwork for the future.”

“The American people just impeached Donald Trump,” senator Mark Kelly of Arizona wrote in a social media post.

“They are going to need to plant new forests for all of the subpoenas we’ll be printing,” Massachusetts senator Ed Markey wrote in a social media post replying to a comment about tech company executives. In a later post he wrote, “WHO WANTS MEDICARE FOR ALL?”

Jamie Raskin, the congressman from Maryland, quoted Tom Paine, writing in a social media post: “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered, but we have this consolation: The more difficult the struggle, the more glorious in the end will be our victory.”

“A great night for the rule of law. A great night for democracy. America is back,” Minnesota governor Tim Walz wrote in a social media post.

in Portland, Oregon

Oregon’s Democratic governor, Tina Kotek, declared victory in a speech to supporters in Portland late Tuesday, although the race has not yet been called by the Associated Press, and her Republican challenger, Christine Drazan, refused to concede with close to a third of the votes still to be counted.

“I am proud to stand here as your next governor of the beautiful state of Oregon,” Kotek told supporters in downtown Portland after two other media outlets (CBS News and Decision Desk) projected that she would win re-election. She led 52.3%-45% at the time.

“Tina Kotek, as I’ve heard, has gone on stage and declared victory. Now all the votes haven’t been counted and I am continuing to pray for the victory for us,” Drazan said about 30 minutes later in Hillsboro, Oregon. “This race isn’t over.”

More than 100 Democratic women have been elected to the House of Representatives, marking a 60% increase in their representation since 2016.

“Women have borne the brunt of the Trump administration’s recklessness and Republicans’ extremist agenda, and on Tuesday they made it clear they have had enough, senator Teresa Leger Fernández, the chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, said in a statement.

“The millions of women who showed up at the polls voted for a better future for all women and girls. Their rights to healthcare, childcare, and even their right to vote was on the line,” she added.