By Sohaib Shams
Results rolled in early Wednesday from the 2026 U.S. midterm elections as millions of voters rendered a verdict on President Donald Trump's second term. While Trump was not on the ballot, control of both chambers of Congress hung in the balance, with Democrats needing to flip four Senate seats and three House seats to secure majorities.
Democrats capture Senate seats in North Carolina and New Hampshire
Democrat Roy Cooper won election to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina, marking a significant pickup for the party. In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas also won a Senate seat. These victories contributed to early Democratic momentum in the battle for the upper chamber.
House results show mixed outcomes across states
A flurry of House race results was reported throughout the evening. Democrats secured wins in Illinois, including La Shawn Ford in the 7th District, Donna Miller in the 2nd, Jonathan Jackson in the 1st, and Daniel Biss in the 9th. In Pennsylvania, Democrats Mary Scanlon, Summer Lee, Madeleine Dean, Chris Rabb, and Brendan Boyle all won reelection. Other Democratic victories included Eugene Vindman in Virginia's 7th District, Sarah McBride in Delaware's at-large district, and Colin Allred in Texas' 33rd District. Republicans held seats in Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Trump reacts to coverage as results unfold
The president spent the early evening posting repeatedly on social media about Fox News, criticizing the network's coverage. Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Trump remained "cautiously optimistic" despite early Democratic wins, adding that "he left it all on the field." Trump was expected to attend an election night watch party in the East Room.
Exit polls indicate Republican declines among key groups
An SSRS exit poll suggested Trump's 19-state campaign blitz for Republican candidates did little to improve his standing. Early data showed sharp Republican declines among Black men, Latinos, young voters, evangelical Christians, and voters without college degrees. The poll also found that 1 in 10 Trump voters planned to switch to Democrats in the midterms.
Florida Democrats break Republican supermajority in state House
In a notable state-level development, Florida Democrats flipped enough seats to break the Republican supermajority in the state House. For years, Florida Republicans had held two-thirds of both legislative chambers, enabling them to advance Governor Ron DeSantis's agenda without Democratic input. Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams called it a "decisive victory" that positions Democrats to "fight back against rampant extremism."
Other notable results
Kathy Hochul won reelection as New York governor. Helena Foulkes won the Rhode Island gubernatorial race. Republican Shelley Capito retained her Senate seat in West Virginia, while Republican Ashley Moody won reelection to the Senate from Florida. In a lighter moment, White House staff reportedly ordered dinner from Cheesecake Factory, a reference to former President Barack Obama's past swipe at Trump comparing White House decor to the restaurant chain.
