Democrats are projected to regain control of the U.S. Senate following a series of major victories in the 2026 midterm elections, marking a significant shift in Washington during President Donald Trump’s second term.
CBS News reported late Tuesday that Democrats had secured the Republican-held seats needed to reclaim the Senate majority, with major victories in Texas, South Carolina, Ohio and North Carolina helping drive the party’s gains.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, while Annie Andrews won South Carolina’s Senate race against Republican Darline Graham. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown also defeated Republican Jon Husted in Ohio, and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper won his Senate contest against Michael Whatley.
Democrats also successfully defended important seats, including Sen. Jon Ossoff’s reelection victory in Georgia.
The results represent a major political shift after Republicans entered the election holding a 53–47 Senate majority.
Control of the Senate would give Democrats authority over committee leadership, legislative scheduling and the confirmation process for federal judges and senior administration officials. It would also create significant obstacles for President Trump’s legislative agenda during the remaining two years of his presidency.
The election results come as Democrats are also projected to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially placing both chambers of Congress under Democratic leadership when the new Congress convenes in January 2027.
Several races, including Michigan’s closely watched contest between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers, remained unresolved in the latest reporting.