Democrats secure major gains in 2026 midterms, defying expectations

This included a significant Democratic breakthrough in Texas and other traditionally Republican states.

Democrats secured control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, potentially achieving their largest House majority in nearly two decades.

The outcome represents a considerable setback for President Donald Trump, who campaigned on promises of economic recovery and ending all wars. Despite a late-stage campaign push to energize Republican voters, the party’s message failed to resonate with enough voters.

In Texas, Democrats achieved remarkable upsets, with James Talarico defeating Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gina Hinojosa unseating Gov. Greg Abbott. These victories were particularly surprising given that Trump had won the state by a significant margin just two years prior. A Fox News poll in October had shown a close race between Talarico and Paxton, and Abbott with a lead over Hinojosa, but the Democrats ultimately prevailed by substantial margins.

The Cook Political Report had rated the Texas Senate race as a “toss up” with a Republican advantage, but Talarico secured 53.9% of the vote compared to Paxton’s 44.2% as of Wednesday morning. Similarly, Hinojosa’s race, initially considered “lean Republican,” resulted in a nearly 7% victory for the Democrat as of 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

Nationwide, voters expressed dissatisfaction with Trump and the state of the economy. A Fox News poll indicated Trump’s approval rating at 36%, while 74% of voters expressed negative views about the economy.

Beyond Texas, Democrats achieved surprising victories in Kansas and South Carolina, both states that Trump carried decisively in 2024. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton defeated Sen. Roger Marshall, ending a 94-year Republican winning streak in Senate races and marking the state’s first Democratic senator in nearly a century. The race was considered a “toss up.”

In South Carolina, Annie Andrews defeated Sen. Darline Graham, who had been appointed to fill the seat left vacant by her late brother, Lindsey Graham. The race was rated “lean Republican,” but Andrews secured a victory by a margin of 4.2 points, ending the Graham family’s decades-long hold on the Senate seat.

Even in Maine, long considered a swing state, Republican Senator Susan Collins was defeated by Democrat Troy Jackson, ending her 30-year tenure. The race was considered a “toss up,” but Jackson secured a 6-point victory.

Overall, the results demonstrate that the Democratic wave extended far beyond traditional battleground states, impacting regions and seats that Republicans had long considered secure.