VerorbisWhat changed this week
Politics United States

US midterm elections

Democrats won House and Senate; Mississippi still uncalled; Alaska count challenged in court; Schumer faces leadership pushback

Confidence: medium. Control of both chambers is confirmed by AP and all major networks. Seat totals, two Senate races, about 27 House races, two governorships and turnout are still moving. · Updated 11 Nov 2026, 2pm ET

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Why it matters: Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate, changing the balance of power in the US Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. source

What's happening

In the Nov 3, 2026 midterms, Democrats won majorities in both chambers of Congress, which Republicans had controlled going in. The latest AP tally, from Nov 5 evening, had Democrats at 253 House seats to Republicans' 155 (218 needed), with 27 races uncalled. CBS News counted more than 40 Republican-held House seats flipped by Democrats, and The Guardian gave a similar figure on Nov 6; that is a count of flips, not the net change from the 214 seats Democrats held before the election. CBS said on Nov 6 that exact margins were still unclear because some races had not been projected.

In the Senate, Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them hold at least 54 seats to Republicans' 44 after flipping seven Republican-held seats. Alaska and Mississippi were still uncalled on Nov 6: CBS described Mississippi as still a toss-up with a razor-thin margin, and Fox News reported that the FBI and Congress are widening scrutiny of what it calls the 'Decoy Dan' affair in the Alaska race. Democrats also flipped five governorships, and preliminary turnout was near 49% of eligible voters.

In the AP Voter Poll, government corruption and the cost of living were the issues voters most often called crucial, and NPR and El País reported a sharp swing toward Democrats among voters under 30. Republicans are trading blame over the losses (CBS): Vice President JD Vance blamed the Iran war, and Trump called that 'largely true' but said he would do it again (Haaretz). On Nov 5 Trump denounced 'crooked' elections after the Democrats' victory, Africanews reported, and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth faces impeachment threats from both parties (CBS).

Markets swung after the vote. The Dow rose more than 1,500 points on Nov 4, but a sell-off in AI stocks on Nov 5 sent the S&P 500 down 4.4%, its worst day since April 2025, as worries grew about possible data center moratoriums after the Democratic wins (CBC). Other countries are watching because a Democratic Congress gains budget and oversight leverage over Ukraine aid, Middle East arms sales and Iran war funding; an ING analyst quoted by Euronews notes the president can use trade powers without Congress.

What changed recently

Key figures

253-155House seats called (D-R), 27 uncalled2026-11-05 18:30 ET · source
more than 40House seats flipped from Republicans to Democrats (a count of flips, not the net change)CBS News; The Guardian gives a similar figure (Nov 6) · 2026-11-05 21:20 ET · source
54-44Senate seats called (D caucus-R), 2 uncalled2026-11-05 · source
7Senate seats flipped R to D2026-11-05 · source
28-20Governorships called (D-R), 2 uncalled2026-11-04 10:00 ET · source
48.8% (about 122.7 million ballots)Turnout, share of eligible voters (preliminary, UF Election Lab)2026-11-05 09:00 GMT · source
1,724 votesMississippi Senate margin, Colom (D) over Hyde-Smith (R), 96% counted2026-11-05 12:45 ET · source

Sources