By Fatma Younis
Democrats rode a wave of economic discontent and disapproval of President Donald Trump to regain control of the U.S. Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, flipping seats in several longtime Republican strongholds. ABC News projects Democrats will hold a 54-44 majority, with gains in Kansas, South Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas — states that would have been considered unthinkable for Democratic victories just two years ago.
Georgia: Ossoff expands coalition
Senator Jon Ossoff won reelection with roughly 60% of the vote, improving his margins among white voters by about 10 percentage points compared to 2022. Voters under 30 backed Ossoff by a 69-point margin, up from 21 points in the previous cycle, while voters aged 45-64 shifted from supporting the Republican by 8 points to backing Ossoff by a similar margin. Independents, who make up three in ten Georgia voters, favored Ossoff by roughly 60% to 40%. About three-quarters of Georgia Senate voters rated the economy negatively, and nine in ten of those calling the economy "poor" voted for Ossoff.
South Carolina: Andrews breaks through
Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham, who had held the seat since her brother Lindsey Graham's death in June. Black voters supported Andrews by an 83%-14% margin, while white voters shifted dramatically: they backed Republican Tim Scott by 54 points in 2022 but favored Graham by only 14 points this year. Women backed Andrews by just over 10 points, reversing an 18-point Republican advantage in 2022. Roughly one in ten Trump 2024 voters crossed over to Andrews, while almost no Harris 2024 voters supported Graham.
Iowa: Turek ends 18-year drought
Josh Turek became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Iowa since Tom Harkin in 2008. Independents preferred Turek by about 20 points, and roughly one in ten Trump 2024 voters crossed over. Women supported Turek by about 10 points while men backed Republican Ashley Hinson by a similar margin — a reversal from 2022 when Republican Chuck Grassley carried both groups. Voters under 30 backed Turek by a 2-to-1 margin, and voters 30-44 favored him by about 10 points.
Ohio: Brown retakes seat on economic anger
Sherrod Brown reclaimed the seat he lost in 2024, defeating Republican John Husted. Ohio voters were deeply negative on the economy, with a majority blaming Trump's tariffs for high costs. Brown won women by roughly 15 points, voters under 30 by more than 40 points, and voters 30-44 by about 30 points — sharp reversals from 2024. Independents backed Brown by 26 points, up from 9 points in 2024. White voters split nearly evenly after supporting Republicans by double digits in the previous two cycles.
Kansas: Hamilton makes history
Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas since 1932, unseating incumbent Roger Marshall. Four in ten Kansas voters said they were "angry" about the country's direction, and they backed Hamilton by an 80-point margin. Nearly six in ten disapproved of Trump, including half who strongly disapproved, and they widely supported Hamilton. Independents split more than 2-to-1 for Hamilton, and women backed him by 10 points while men narrowly favored Marshall.
Texas: Talarico powered by youth and minorities
State Representative James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, propelled by younger voters: 79% of those aged 18-29 supported Talarico, up from about half for the 2024 Democratic candidate. Women backed Talarico by 58% to 42%, while men split evenly — a reversal from 2024 when men favored Ted Cruz by 18 points. Talarico won 90% of Black voters and two-thirds of Hispanic voters, roughly 10 points higher than 2024. Seventy-one percent of Texas voters rated the economy negatively, and 72% of them voted for Talarico.
