2025/26/27/28 Primaries & General Elections

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The Midterms

Midterm elections are federal elections held halfway through a president's four-year term. Every seat in the House of Representatives is on the ballot, since representatives serve two-year terms, while only about a third of the Senate is, because senators serve staggered six-year terms. The president's party almost always loses House seats in a midterm, but the president's popularity matters: a study found that presidents with an approval rating below 50% saw their party lose an average of 37 seats during midterm elections from 1946 to 2018.   > Explore how each district has voted in every House election since 1840. (More, w/interactive) > See why the president's party almost always loses seats during the midterm election. (More, w/video)    Midterms historically draw far fewer voters than presidential elections, with turnout typically dropping about 15 percentage points from the previous presidential election. The last two midterms bucked that trend: In 2018, turnout reached levels not seen in more than a century, and in 2022, turnout reached the second-highest level in modern records.   > Who votes in the midterm elections? (More) > See which candidates top the list of the more than $2.5B spent this election cycle (More) > After the 1930 midterms, enough House members-elect died before the next session began that control of the chamber flipped. (More)   This year's midterms take place this Tuesday, Nov. 3, with all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and 36 governorships on the ballot. Candidates are raising and spending money at record levels. House and Senate candidates have raised more than $2.5B so far this cycle, and ad spending is projected to reach $11.6B, surpassing the record set in the 2024 presidential election.   > Research your ballot, find your polling place, and make a plan to vote. (More) > Watch how the same group of Americans has changed their minds from 2020 to the 2026 midterms. (More, w/video)   Discover more:  > Who controls America's elections? (More, w/audio) > Today's divisive politics have some of their roots in the 1994 midterm election campaign. (More, w/video) > See how officials test voting machines to ensure the integrity of the election. (More, w/video)

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El-Sayed’s primary opponent stuns Democrats by endorsing Republican opponent in Michigan Senate race

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s former opponent in the U.S. Senate primary, Haley Stevens, stunned party officials Sunday by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers as Democratic tensions boiled over days before the election that could determine the balance of power on Capitol Hill.

https://apnews.com/article/elsayed-michigan-stevens-democrats-unity-midterms-d7053bbd0ed2fd70756896c6e4b66a27?

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🤞 Where 2028ers put their chips

Illustration: Brendan Lynch / Axios. Photos: Getty Images

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's chances of being a presidential contender in 2028 are riding on his winning reelection in a landslide Tuesday. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's future hinges on whether a fellow progressive can carry a swing state, for once. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has to show that his congressional redistricting gambit worked for Democrats — and he needs to beat back a state wealth tax proposal supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Driving the news: Democrats eyeing White House runs have spent the past year preparing to emerge from Tuesday's midterms with momentum, and an argument for a 2028 candidacy. They want Democrats to do well — but to each, some races are especially important. Here's how the top potential Democratic contenders for president have placed their bets in this week's elections — and what success or failure will look like for them. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez A great night: AOC has wagered just about everything on the Senate race in Michigan, where she's said that a win by progressive Abdul El-Sayed would "break open the entire political calculus in America" and show that "anybody can win anywhere." She's weighing whether to run for president or the Senate, and much of her electability argument for a national campaign hinges on an El-Sayed victory. Progressives are desperate to establish that one of their own can carry a presidential battleground state. Ocasio-Cortez has contributed $1 million to help El-Sayed and stumped for him at several events. An El-Sayed victory "would prove to the country, and the world, that competent, courageous progressive populists can win in the most competitive swing states in America," said Bhavik Lathia, a left-wing strategist from Michigan. "The implications for 2028 would be enormous." AOC would get bonus points Tuesday if other progressives she's supporting — such as House candidate Randy Villegas in California and Senate candidate Angie Nixon in Florida — win their swing-seat races. Worst-case scenario: If El-Sayed loses, many progressives think AOC would be less likely to run for president. That's why she's widely viewed as having more on the line Tuesday than any other potential Democratic contender for president, followed by Shapiro. Josh Shapiro A great night: Shapiro needs to win so big Tuesday that it makes Democratic presidential primary voters see his technocratic "get shit done" brand of governing as the party's best bet to take down the GOP in 2028. Shapiro is less known nationally than many 2028 hopefuls, and that has been by choice. He's largely focused on Pennsylvania this year, even as would-be rivals for president crisscrossed the country. A blowout in America's biggest swing state could help him stand out. A good night for Shapiro would be defeating Republican Stacy Garrity by double digits and carrying three Democratic House candidates — Janelle Stelson, Bob Brooks and Paige Cognetti — across the finish line to defeat Republican incumbents. He'd have a great night if his coattails were so long that he pulled a fourth Democratic House hopeful, Bob Harvie, to victory — taking down GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who's known for surviving difficult electoral cycles. Shapiro would get extra credit if he helped Democrats win a trifecta in Harrisburg for the first time in decades by flipping control of the state Senate. Worst-case scenario: If only one or two Democrats in his state flip House seats or he wins by less than 10 points, Shapiro's setup for 2028 would fall short. Andy Beshear A great night: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who moonlights as chair of the Democratic Governors Association, put his chips this year on helping his party take control of a majority of the nation's governorships. Beshear would earn bragging rights if Democrats flip the two governors' seats needed to do that. He's eyeing the races in Iowa, Ohio, Georgia and Nevada. "I am laser-focused on these governors' races," he told us, arguing that the results will help determine what's possible in the 2028 presidential contest. "Rob Sand wins Iowa, Iowa's in play. When Amy Acton wins Ohio, Ohio's in play," Beshear said. Worst-case scenario: Beshear made enemies among some Latino Democrats this year when the DGA rebuffed calls to invest heavily in Gina Hinojosa's campaign for Texas governor. If Hinojosa loses to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott by a razor-thin margin or pulls an upset, Beshear's decision-making will come under heavy scrutiny — and he could have a problem with some Latino leaders in a 2028 campaign.

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🎭 Part 2: More best- and worst-case scenarios

Gavin Newsom

A great night: He won over many MS NOW moms and "resistance" liberals across the country when he responded to President Trump's push to create more GOP House seats in other states by fighting back with a successful voter proposition to do the same in California.

• His goal has been to gain five Democratic seats from the change to help Democrats take back the House. That's his bar to clear Tuesday.
• Some political insiders now think Democrats could gain 20 or more House seats across the country, so Newsom's contribution might not be as decisive as once thought.
• Newsom would score a political win if a proposed billionaire wealth tax on the ballot in his home state, which he opposes, fails.

Worst-case scenario: If California voters approve the tax or Democrats flip fewer than five House seats there, it would diminish Newsom's California clout.

Jon Ossoff

A great night: A long-running knock against Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff has been that he won his seat in 2021 by riding his fellow Peach State Sen. Raphael Warnock's coattails.

• Ossoff has the chance this year to prove he doesn't need Warnock, who isn't on the ticket. He's on his way to doing just that, with polls showing him comfortably leading GOP challenger Mike Collins.
• But to have a truly great night, Ossoff needs to show that he has enough sway in his state to help pull Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms to victory.

Worst-case scenario: If Bottoms were to lose, Democrats say, Ossoff would be even less likely to leave the Senate for a presidential run, since Georgia's governor has the power to make a temporary appointment if a senator steps down.

• Ossoff, for his part, has said he has "zero interest" in a 2028 bid. But Barack Obama made similar comments before the 2008 election.

Kamala Harris

A great night: Former Vice President Kamala Harris has rallied voters to fight back against GOP redistricting and a recent Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act that threatens Black representation in Congress.

• A huge uptick in turnout among Black voters — especially in the South — could strengthen the argument that Harris should be the nominee.
• Harris also has stumped for several Black Democrats running for governor and Senate this cycle, and their success could give her a boost.

Worst-case scenario: Harris hasn't hitched her political fortunes on any specific contenders in this cycle, unlike other potential 2028 candidates. But a loss by female or Black candidates like Bottoms could nonetheless deepen Democrats' fears that diverse candidates could lose in 2028.

Pete Buttigieg

A great night: Buttigieg has spread his chips around this election cycle, endorsing more than 100 candidates and stumping in person for more than half of them.

• That's helped Buttigieg cement his brand as a well-liked Democrat who methodically explains issues and can campaign anywhere in America.

Worst-case scenario: But Buttigieg's midterm strategy has been low-risk, low-reward — so he could end up as an afterthought Tuesday.

— Holly Otterbein, Alex Thompson

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Election Eve

Voters in the US head to the polls tomorrow, with record numbers of early ballots cast and record spending projected to reach $11.6B, outpacing every other midterm in US history and even narrowly eclipsing the 2024 election cycle. Republicans lead overall ad spending at $5.2B compared with Democrats’ $4.8B, with individual megadonors driving the totals. Elon Musk gave around $450M to conservative groups and causes, more than double the $186.2M combined donations from two of the top Democratic contributors, George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. Texas’ Senate race accounts for over $573M of the funds, putting it on track to become the most expensive nonpresidential contest ever. Research shows a $2M TV ad advantage can net a Senate candidate roughly 10,000 votes, which could be crucial in a tight race (what was the closest election in Senate history?). Once vote counting concludes, federal candidates cannot pocket unspent funds for personal use. Legal options include settling campaign debts, funding party committees, or saving for future runs.

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💰 Biggest midterm megadonors

Data: The New York Times. Chart: Noah Bressner/Axios The top 20 donors have poured about $2 billion into federal races for this year's midterm elections, The New York Times' Matt Zdun and Teddy Schleifer write. That's 15% of all the money that will be spent on ads this cycle. Elon Musk ($446 million) towers over every other midterm donor, contributing nearly three times as much as the next-biggest donor. That figure excludes tens of millions in additional contributions made after Oct. 14 or to groups that don't report to the FEC. 🔬 Zoom in: The tech industry is flexing its political muscle with venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and its founders contributing $116 million, overwhelmingly to Republican causes, including super PACs pushing AI- and crypto-friendly policies. OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife have also poured money into a pro-AI super PAC, though they've since distanced themselves from the group. On the Democratic side, tech investor Reid Hoffman has spent nearly $17 million backing Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. Top 20 (via X) ... Keep reading (gift link).

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📊 Final polls: Blue Senate surge

In the final set of New York Times/Siena polls before tomorrow's election, Democrats are ahead in all seven battleground states likely to decide the Senate.

• Since a September poll, Democrats gained in six of the states (Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas) and lost ground in Alaska.

🧮 By the numbers: Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed leads Republican rival Mike Rogers by 11 points.

• Texas Democrat James Talarico has a 7-point lead over state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
• Democratic candidates also lead in Maine, Ohio and Kansas, and narrowly in Alaska — all states with incumbent Republican senators. The race in Iowa is effectively tied.

Between the lines: In six of the seven states (every one but Maine), the Democratic Senate candidate was viewed more favorably than the Republican.

• To take control of the Senate, Democrats have to hold every seat they have and flip at least four Republican-held seats. If these polls are right, they win.

NYT gift link ... More data.

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The stakes couldn’t be higher

A voter fills out a ballot in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Saturday. (Eric Lee/Reuters)

Tuesday’s election is critical for President Donald Trump, the future of the MAGA movement and the political landscape heading into 2028.

It could offer Democrats a chance at redemption two years after their crushing presidential defeat. But at its core, the midterms will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress or Democrats gain the power to challenge Trump’s agenda.

If Democrats win back the House of Representatives or the Senate, Trump will face a slew of investigations: into his conduct, his Cabinet, alleged government corruption, turmoil at the Pentagon and his personal fortune — which has swelled since he returned to the White House. But victory for Democrats would bring its own challenges. The party would need to prove it can deliver more than opposition to Trump, even as they face his veto power and fierce resistance.

+ For subscribers: The huge stakes of an unusually momentous midterm election

+ Read more: Why your party will (or won’t) have a good Election Day

+ Senate watch: The top 11 Senate seats most likely to flip + How a Democrat feud in Michigan resulted in a stunning party defection

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What could go wrong on Election Day?

That’s a question officials across the country have spent months preparing for. Beyond the usual logistical headaches, they’ve considered scenarios that once seemed far-fetched: federal agents at polling places, seized ballots and challenges to election results. The preparations come as President Trump and his allies continue to question the integrity of the vote.

+ Read more: How officials are preparing for Election Day disruptions — including from Trump

+ Plus: A field guide to the conspiracy theories you’ll likely see tomorrow   Voting may help you live longer The social connection and sense of purpose that come from voting may also help people live longer, according to a first-of-its-kind study. Researchers found that voting in the 2008 and 2012 US presidential elections was associated with roughly a 26% and 32% lower risk of premature death by 2023, respectively. + Read more: Politics can be stressful, but voting may help you live longer + Also: A record number of health professionals are running for office. Could they help heal US politics?

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Explosive spending, ugly ads and courtroom battles set stage for tense midterm elections

WASHINGTON — When the polls close Tuesday night, the 2026 U.S. election will go down as one of history’s most expensive and extraordinarily ugly midterms — galvanizing record-breaking early voter turnout among a deeply divided electorate.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/02/repub/explosive-spending-ugly-ads-and-courtroom-battles-set-stage-for-tense-midterm-elections/?

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Now, the voters decide

A poll worker hands out stickers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

After months of buildup, millions will cast ballots today that could reshape the balance of power in Washington.

Democrats enter the day with a 9-point lead on the generic congressional ballot, according to CNN’s Poll of Polls, as election forecasters have increasingly shifted competitive seats in their favor. NYT/Siena polls also show Democrats leading in five key Senate races, fueling hopes of gains in North Carolina and potentially historic victories in Texas and Michigan.

But nationally, the midterm elections are widely seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s first two years back in office. After a campaign blitz through red states, Trump delivered his closing message Monday at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where he devoted considerable attention to his renovation projects rather than the elections themselves. He then struck a reflective note about his party’s prospects: “For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms,” he said. “But we gave this a very strong shot.”

+ Live updates: Polls open as US decides control of Congress

+ Video: Which midterm candidates could make history?

+ The process: How mail-in ballots get counted

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Election monitors in every state

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios The Justice Department deployed about 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states today for the first time, Axios' Ben Berkowitz reports. 🧑‍⚖️ The unprecedented effort was announced after courts repeatedly rejected the DOJ's efforts to force states to restrict voting for alleged noncitizens. It also comes amid a long-running Trump administration push to fight voter fraud, which studies say isn't nearly as prevalent as the administration suggests. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement: "I am very proud we are deploying the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history, and pursuing transparency for elections in an assertive and nondiscriminatory manner." The observers are coming from the DOJ, U.S. attorney offices, and the Office of Personnel Management. Some local election officials say they're worried that such a massive wave of observers could intimidate or otherwise interfere with voters. Many of the counties being monitored today are in deep-blue areas or home to big, potentially decisive contests. Go deeper ... Affected counties. 📃 Meanwhile: Voting machines across New York's Westchester County were rejecting paper ballots today, raising concerns about potential delays in one of the country's most competitive House races. Go deeper.

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📺 Kornacki's 13-hour trek

Photo: NBC News Steve Kornacki, NBC News' chief data analyst, stayed on air for as long as seven straight hours during this year's primaries as he took viewers down Election Night rabbit holes with his Kornacki Cam livestreams. Tonight and into the hours, he'll extend that to at least 13 hours of precinct-by-precinct midterm drama at his famous Big Board. Why it matters: Kornacki's cult following, with 41 million livestream starts across 22 nights of this year's primary coverage, reflects a new media era where audiences can bond electronically with experts who share their obsessions. With a massive potential power swing at stake, Kornacki's niche will suddenly have national fascination. 📱 Social media loves the Kornacki Cam — which is actually a couple of cameras, including a handheld one and an overhead view. Even his rare bathroom breaks draw clips and comments. "There was kind of a community that built itself around these primary nights," Kornacki told me in an interview. "We did it as an experiment and were just trying to see if there are people out there that actually want to just do the whole journey of an election night — just results and nothing else." Behind the scenes: Kornacki — who has also brought his data analysis to NBC Sports' Super Bowl, Olympics and Kentucky Derby coverage — told me he doesn't eat on the day of his election livestreams. And he doesn't snack during the show — just Dunkin' coffee. "Once you start doing it, the adrenaline of new results, new material, new information constantly coming in, it carries you," he said. In addition to Kornacki's livestream, he'll pop up regularly on the 13-hour "Decision '26" marathon on the NBC broadcast network. NBC News' rolling coverage begins at 5 p.m. ET and runs until 6 a.m. More on NBC's coverage.

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Election night agenda: When polls close and when to expect results

With voters deciding thousands of races across the country on Tuesday, keeping track of which races to watch throughout the night — and when to expect results — can get tricky. Read More.

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Georgia Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history as the first Black woman ever elected governor

ATLANTA (AP) — Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected governor of Georgia on Tuesday, making history as the first Black woman to be elected governor in the United States, defeating Republican businessman Rick Jackson and flipping the top job in a key swing state.

https://apnews.com/article/georgia-governor-lance-bottom-jackson-midterm-election-67c22a38b9a6e4cad5584aa44acf106f?

Democrat Annie Andrews wins US Senate election in South Carolina over Republican Darline Graham

WASHINGTON (AP) — Annie Andrew shattered decades of Republican dominance in South Carolina on Tuesday to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from the deeply conservative state in a generation.

https://apnews.com/article/darline-graham-annie-andrews-south-carolina-midterms-74fc0bf08f5822378fcfa2fe09377d69?

Democrat Amy Acton defeats Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio governor’s race

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dr. Amy Acton delivered an upset victory in the race for Ohio governor on Tuesday, overcoming more than $100 million spent against her to become the first Democrat to win the seat in 20 years and the first woman ever elected to the state’s top post.

https://apnews.com/article/ohio-governor-race-2026-election-ramaswamy-acton-ee7b1860b0b8905c55df27318755f7e3?

Democrat James Talarico flips a US Senate seat in Texas and sends a shock through the GOP

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democrat James Talarico flipped a U.S. Senate seat in Texas on Tuesday, defeating Republican Ken Paxton to pull off the party’s first statewide victory in more than 30 years and sending a jolt through a longtime GOP stronghold that President Donald Trump carried by double digits just two years ago.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-senate-talarico-paxton-midterm-election-66df71a7c2bfa962cffd4134ef1a0364?

Sherrod Brown flips Senate seat in Ohio for Democrats by ousting Sen. Jon Husted

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former Sen. Sherrod Brown defeated Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio on Tuesday, flipping a seat that was crucial to Democrats’ strategy to retake the chamber and providing a ray of hope for the party’s longer-term prospects in a former swing state that had turned sharply to the right over the last decade.

https://apnews.com/article/election-2026-ohio-senate-brown-husted-9e7ae9e1715c0e8203614aea6f71666d?

Midterm elections live updates: Trump defends Iran war after voters give Democrats control of Congress

https://apnews.com/live/midterm-election-2026?

Democrats win the US House and Senate as voters deliver a strong rebuke to Trump and Republicans

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, delivering a decisive rebuke of Republican governance in Washington and ushering in a new era of congressional resistance to President Donald Trump.

https://apnews.com/article/midterm-election-house-senate-democrats-republicans-trump-f126e12e05b579a327b98481c0ae2226?

Troy Jackson wins the Maine US Senate race over GOP Sen. Susan Collins in a key Democratic victory

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Late Democratic entry Troy Jackson won Maine’s U.S. Senate seat early Wednesday, defeating longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins, taking advantage of President Donald Trump’s deep unpopularity to dislodge an incumbent who had survived tough challenges in the past.

https://apnews.com/article/maine-senate-susan-collins-troy-jackson-election-ac895e873f373e5560c4a6c137b2ac19?

Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, will become first Muslim senator

WASHINGTON (AP) — Progressive favorite Abdul El-Sayed has defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a bitter campaign for Michigan’s open Senate seat, giving the Democratic Party’s left wing a breakthrough victory in one of the nation’s most important swing states.

https://apnews.com/article/michigan-senate-abdul-elsayed-mike-rogers-election-d546ffbcf04fbb4eb581f63f807a0609?

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Democrats Sweep the Senate ...

US voters woke up this morning to a blue wave in the Senate. Republicans entered Election Day with a 53-47 majority; Democrats are projected to secure at least 54 seats as of this writing, with two races still uncalled. In Texas, James Talarico (D) defeated Ken Paxton (R), helping end the party's 32-year losing streak in statewide elections. Talarico led 55%-43% as of this writing, with 93% of the vote counted. In South Carolina, Annie Andrews (D) ousted incumbent Sen. Darline Graham (R), winning by 4.4 points—the first time the state elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998.  In Kansas, Adam Hamilton (D) unseated incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall (R) (51%-46%), becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat there since 1932. In Maine, Troy Jackson (D) defeated incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R) (54%-46%), ending her 30-year term. Roy Cooper (D) also flipped North Carolina, defeating Michael Whatley (R), while Josh Turek (D) flipped Iowa, defeating Ashley Hinson (R). In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) defeated incumbent Sen. Jon Husted (R) to win back a seat on Capitol Hill. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed (D) defeated Mike Rogers (R) by 6.6 points after one of the most contentious campaigns of the season. In Alaska, Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan led with 48.5% of the vote—but a final winner may not be known until the state's ranked-choice tabulation on Nov. 18.  In a final surprise in Mississippi, Scott Colom (D) leads incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) by less than 100 votes. The state does not allow automatic recounts (though courts can order them).  See Senate results here.

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... and the House

Democrats are projected to take control of the House, winning at least 228 seats as of this writing, with 68 races still uncalled. Projections estimate Democrats could secure more than 250 seats as votes are tallied. The party needed to net at least four seats to overcome Republicans’ current 218-214 majority. Democrats flipped four key seats in swing state Pennsylvania alone, with Bob Harvie, Bob Brooks, Paige Cognetti, and Janelle Stelson ousting Republican incumbents. In Ohio, Brian Poindexter (D) defeated incumbent Rep. Max Miller (R, OH-07), who is facing domestic abuse allegations. In a sign of the Democratic surge, Rep. Victoria Spartz (R, IN-5) lost to challenger JD Ford (D), despite winning in 2024 by 18 points. Elsewhere, Democratic incumbents held several key districts redrawn by Republican-led states, including in Florida, North Carolina, Alabama and Texas. Roughly one-third of the nation’s congressional districts were redrawn this cycle (scroll for maps).  The president's party has lost seats in 18 of 20 midterm elections since 1946. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D, NY-08) is poised to become the first Black speaker in US history when the new congressional session begins Jan. 3. See House results here.

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... and Key Down-Ballot Races

Thirty-six states held gubernatorial elections yesterday, with each party defending 18 seats and Republicans entering with a 26-24 edge nationwide. Among the notable results, Democrats flipped the Texas governorship for the first time in more than three decades after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott conceded his reelection bid to Democrat Gina Hinojosa. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine (R), while Democrat Rob Sand beat Republican Zach Lahn in Iowa. Both victories marked the first time in 20 years that Democrats won gubernatorial elections in their respective states. In Wisconsin, David Crowley (D) defeated Tom Tiffany (R) to succeed Gov. Tony Evers (D), becoming the state's first Black governor. In another first, Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) won Georgia's governorship, becoming the nation's first Black female governor and flipping a seat Republicans held for more than two decades. Alaskans used ranked-choice voting to pick a successor to Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R), while also deciding whether to repeal the system; the 2024 repeal attempt failed by just 743 votes. Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins had 49% of the vote with 75% of ballots counted. Separately, California considered a one-time wealth tax on billionaires, while voters weighed abortion-related ballot measures in Idaho, Nevada, Virginia, and Missouri. Several states also voted on voter ID requirements, and Idaho considered naming an official state gun. Dozens of local data center measures were also on ballots. See all results here.

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🤯 Biggest election shockers

Sen.-elect James Talarico (D-Texas) and Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa (D) visit a Whataburger in Austin after winning last night. Photo: James Talarico via X Democrats racked up stunning margins in red states that President Trump carried in landslides just two years ago, Axios' Hans Nichols writes: 1. The Texas trifecta: Democrats won the races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, giving the party unified control of state government for the first time since 1995. 2. North Carolina was a bloodbath. The man in charge of steering House Republicans to victory — Rep. Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee — lost his own seat. He'll join the ranks of other defeated party leaders who spent so much time trying to build a majority that they failed to protect themselves. 3. Hispanic voters swung back. Democrats are poised to control three congressional seats in the Rio Grande Valley that President Trump carried in 2024 — and the margins weren't even close. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) was leading Republican Tano Tijerina, 66% to 30%. Democrat Bobby Pulido was leading Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz, 62% to 38%. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) was leading Republican Eric Flores, 56% to 40%. Keep reading.

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🍑 Night of historic firsts

Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms embraces her daughter Lincoln at an election night party in Atlanta. Photo: Brynn Anderson/AP Yesterday's elections delivered a string of historic firsts, breaking barriers in governors' mansions and the Senate, Axios' Julianna Bragg writes. With her victory in Georgia, former Atlanta mayor and Biden aide Keisha Lance Bottoms will become the first Black woman governor in U.S. history. Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Crowley were elected the first Black governors in Florida and Wisconsin, respectively. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) won New Hampshire's open Senate seat, becoming the first openly gay man elected to the chamber. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed will become the first Muslim to serve in the Senate. Deb Haaland (D) won New Mexico's governor's race, becoming the first Indigenous woman elected governor of a U.S. state. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) became the first Indigenous woman elected to the Senate. More historic firsts.

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🏛️ D.C. elects socialist mayor

D.C. mayor-elect Janeese Lewis George votes at Ida B. Wells Middle School in Washington yesterday. Photo: Daniel Heuer/Reuters D.C.'s next mayor will be democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George, who swept her primary in June amid unhappiness with the city's direction and promises to expand affordable child care, Axios D.C.'s Cuneyt Dil reports. Lewis George's biggest task will be rebuilding the capital's economy, which has lost 45,600 jobs since President Trump returned to office. 🦆 Voters also overwhelmingly voted in favor of banning foie gras, a ballot initiative that invited fury from chefs like José Andrés and the owner of Butterworth's, a Capitol Hill French bistro popular among Trump's circle. Go deeper. Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman dances with supporters last night. Photo: Jae C. Hong/AP 🌴 In the Los Angeles mayoral race, democratic socialist Nithya Raman is running neck-and-neck with incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.

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📜 Election time capsule

This morning's homepages.

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Democrats win US House, taking full control of Congress in a strong rebuke to Trump and Republicans Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, ushering in a new era of congressional resistance to President Donald Trump. Democrats routed their rivals across the map in Tuesday's midterm elections, flipping states that have voted Republican for decades and that Trump won by double digits just two years ago. Read more.

What to know: The wins include James Talarico’s stunning Senate victory in Texas, where no Democrat had won statewide office in more than 30 years, and Annie Andrews’ upset victory over Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina. Trump had thrown his full weight behind both losing candidates.   In Michigan, progressive Abdul El-Sayed — one of a crop of left-wing candidates who prevailed in Democratic primaries — topped Republican Mike Rogers. Even Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a battle-tested survivor of difficult elections, lost to Democrat Troy Jackson.     While Trump has proven adept at steamrolling efforts to rein him in, Democratic control will profoundly reshape his final two years in office and hamstring his legislative agenda.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Live updates: Trump says he’ll accept election results but says ‘I don’t view it as a hit on me’ See complete election results Key races: Texas; South Carolina; Ohio; Maine; North Carolina; Michigan; Minnesota; Kansas; Alaska; Georgia Midterms bringing in wave of historic firsts for some states — and for the nation Takeaways: Voters punish Trump, and the GOP suffers historic losses

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Democrats win back control of Congress

In a sweeping victory, Democrats have taken back both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They capitalized on President Donald Trump’s historic unpopularity, and now the question is just how large their majorities in Congress will be.

As the count stands, CNN projects Democrats will win 54 seats in the Senate, three more than the 51 needed for control. In the House, the party is projected to win at least 231 seats, comfortably clearing the 218-seat threshold. That number could grow considerably in the coming hours as Democrats continue to flip Republican-held districts across the country.

President Trump told The New York Times he will accept the results, putting to rest — at least for now — questions about whether he might challenge the outcome. In a separate interview with Fox News, he said he didn’t see the GOP losses as a rebuke of his presidency, despite having urged voters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot.” Instead, Trump placed the blame on Republican candidates who failed to energize his base, sidestepping his own role in selecting some of them.

Asked for his final message to Americans late Tuesday, the president offered a striking acknowledgment of his opponents’ success: “Congratulations to the Democrats,” Trump said. “They did a good job. They’ve been looking for this one for 11 years, and they finally got it.”

+ Live updates: Democrats ride massive blue wave to retake Congress

+ Video: Takeaways from the 2026 midterm elections

📈 CNN Sightline: Races in Mississippi and Alaska have yet to be called. Get a real-time look at the latest results The historic firsts of the 2026 election (AP/Getty Images/Reuters) Winners up and down the ballot will make history this year, breaking longstanding barriers and delivering a series of notable firsts. In the closely watched Michigan Senate race, CNN projects Democrat Abdul El-Sayed will defeat Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers and become the nation’s first Muslim senator. Other milestones include the nation’s first Black woman governor and the first openly gay male US senator. + Read more: See who made history + Plus: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries hopes to cement his place as the first Black speaker Texas turns blue Sen.-elect James Talarico and Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa toast with soft drinks at a Whataburger restaurant following Tuesday’s election. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Texas Democrats have waited since 1994 for a statewide victory, and on Tuesday, they finally broke through. James Talarico won the US Senate race, while Gina Hinojosa captured the governor’s mansion, marking a dramatic political shift in a longtime Republican stronghold. + Read more: Texas Democrats pull off the breakthrough they’ve chased for decades + Video: Democrats turn Texas blue Voters weigh in on key ballot measures Several closely watched ballot measures that could directly affect Americans’ lives are nearing a decision, with implications for taxes, reproductive rights, immigration and more. In California, a proposal to enact the nation’s first wealth tax — a one-time 5% levy on billionaires — remains too early to call. CNN also projects Maryland voters will approve a measure on congressional redistricting, while Missouri voters will reject a new congressional map. + Live updates: Ballot measure results + Video: ‘Billionaire tax’ divides voters in California The fears that fizzled The Trump administration’s aggressive hunt for voter fraud fueled widespread fears of federal election interference that ultimately never materialized on Election Day — thanks to resistance from local election officials and federal courts. Polling places across the country reported few problems, with no widespread disturbances involving federal monitors, ICE agents or mail-in ballots. + Read more: How Trump’s voter fraud crusade crashed into a blue wave + Debunked: Viral video of ballot handling explained

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⚡️ Catch me up

Data: The Downballot, Ballotpedia, AP; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios 📊 In the seven states where Republicans redrew congressional boundaries, they're on track to lose as many as eight seats — rather than gain the 15 they had hoped to pick up. More from Hans Nichols.