Democrats Move Closer to House Control as Key Midterm Races Shift Power

Democrats are moving closer to regaining control of the U.S. House after defeating six Republican incumbents in key battleground races, while also making significant gains in several closely watched Senate contests.

Democrat Annie Andrews scored an upset victory over Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina, delivering a major blow to President Donald Trump in one of the country's most conservative states.

Andrews' win puts Democrats one seat closer to the four additional Senate seats they need to regain control of the chamber. The result also marks the first time in more than two decades that a Democrat has won a Senate seat in South Carolina. Andrews, a physician, will become the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from the state.

Graham was appointed to the Senate in July following the unexpected death of her brother, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. She later entered the race to seek a full term and received Trump's backing.

The defeat represents a setback for Trump as Democrats seek to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with his administration.

Democrats also secured important victories elsewhere. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff won reelection in Georgia, defeating Republican Rep. Mike Collins and denying Republicans a seat they had identified as a major pickup opportunity.

In New Hampshire, Rep. Chris Pappas won the Senate race against former Sen. John Sununu. He will replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

Democrats also flipped a Senate seat in North Carolina, strengthening their hopes of reclaiming a majority in Congress.

The House has emerged as a major battleground, with Democrats making several gains against Republicans. Democrat Jamie Ager defeated Republican Jennifer Capps Balkcom in North Carolina, giving Democrats their first House flip of the night.

Another Democratic victory came in New Jersey, where former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett defeated Republican Rep. Tom Kean. Kean had missed four months of votes while undergoing treatment for depression, a diagnosis he disclosed only after returning to Washington.

Democrats need a net gain of three House seats to take control of the chamber, while four additional Senate seats are required for a Senate majority.

Polls remained open in several states as voters cast ballots in midterm elections widely viewed as a referendum on Trump's second term.

High prices, inflation, government corruption and the war in Iran were among the major concerns shaping the electorate. More than 59 million voters had already cast ballots before Election Day, according to an Associated Press analysis, exceeding early turnout recorded in 2022.

Democrats entered Election Day increasingly confident that dissatisfaction with the economy and Trump's policies could help them overcome the Republican advantage in several traditionally conservative states.

Republicans, meanwhile, invested heavily in competitive races in an effort to protect their narrow congressional majority and prevent a Democratic takeover.

Trump campaigned aggressively for Republican candidates, particularly in states where his party faced unexpected challenges. His schedule included visits to strongly Republican states such as Kansas, Mississippi and South Carolina.

Trump also sought to reassure voters about the economy, declaring in a Fox News Channel interview that "inflation is solved," despite consumer prices rising 3.6% in September from a year earlier, according to the Commerce Department.

The White House said Trump gathered with senior Cabinet members and political advisers at an evening reception to monitor election results.

Several Democratic senators secured comfortable reelection victories, including Cory Booker of New Jersey, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and John Hickenlooper of Colorado.

Democrat Juliana Stratton was also elected to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.

Republicans recorded victories as well. Sen. Ashley Moody won a special election in Florida to complete the term of Marco Rubio, who became Trump's secretary of state in 2025.

In Wyoming, Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman won the Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Cynthia Lummis.

The election unfolded amid widespread voter frustration over the country's direction. According to the AP Voter Poll, roughly three-quarters of voters described themselves as angry or dissatisfied with the country's trajectory.

Economic concerns remained particularly prominent. About three-quarters of voters described the economy as "not so good" or "poor," while roughly eight in 10 said inflation had caused moderate or severe financial hardship for their households.

Government corruption and the cost of living were also cited as crucial factors by about half of voters.

The poll further found that around six in 10 voters believed Trump prioritizes his personal interests over the country's interests.

Republicans had sought to counter historical midterm trends through aggressive redistricting and increased campaign spending.

In Florida, however, the party's effort to gain several additional House seats appeared to be falling short. Democrats Jared Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, despite being drawn into the same district through redistricting, ran in separate districts and won. Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor also secured victory in the Tampa area.

Trump's involvement in Republican primaries also produced potential challenges. In Texas, he backed Attorney General Ken Paxton over longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn, setting up a competitive race against Democratic nominee James Talarico.

In North Carolina, Sen. Thom Tillis' retirement and Trump's support for his preferred successor added another closely watched contest.

Other key Senate races included Ohio, where former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown challenged Republican Sen. Jon Husted, and Alaska, where Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan faced a closely watched contest.

Republicans also sought to retain Senate seats in Iowa, Kansas and Maine while targeting Michigan as a potential pickup opportunity.

In the House, Republicans were fighting to preserve their narrow majority as Democrats targeted districts in states that Trump had repeatedly carried, including Florida, Texas and Iowa.

Beyond Congress, voters in 36 states were choosing governors. Democrats Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, JB Pritzker in Illinois, Wes Moore in Maryland, Maura Healey in Massachusetts and Kathy Hochul in New York won reelection.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected governor of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman to serve as governor of the state. In Florida, Republican Byron Donalds became the first Black Republican elected governor in the United States.

The outcome of the elections could significantly affect the final two years of Trump's second presidential term.

Republicans currently control Congress and have largely supported Trump's agenda. A Democratic takeover of either chamber would give the party greater authority to launch congressional investigations and potentially pursue impeachment proceedings.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York could become the first Black speaker of the House if Democrats secure control. He has outlined a 100-day agenda centered on reducing living costs and increasing oversight of the Trump administration.

A strong Democratic performance could also strengthen the party's potential presidential contenders ahead of the next White House race, while complicating the political prospects of Vice President JD Vance and other Republicans seeking to build their futures around continued support for Trump.