Democrats have regained control of the U.S. Senate.
According to the Associated Press, the Democratic Party will hold at least a 51-39 majority in the chamber as of Tuesday, November 3. Before Election Day in the 2026 midterm elections, Republicans controlled the Senate with a 53-45 majority, alongside two independents: Sen. Angus King of Maine and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
The results mark the beginning of a new 120th Congress. The newly elected senators will take office in January 2027, with their terms scheduled to continue through January 2033.
With Democrats now holding the majority, the party must select a new majority leader to replace Republican John Thune. Thune took over the position in 2024 after longtime GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell stepped aside. Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer has served as minority leader for the past two years, and his current Senate term runs through 2029.
It remains uncertain whether Schumer will become majority leader again. He previously held the position from 2021 through 2025.
Before the election, one Senate seat had remained vacant following Vice President JD Vance’s resignation in January 2025 after being elected alongside President Donald Trump. His departure left Ohio’s Class 3 Senate seat temporarily open.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Republican Jon Husted to serve as interim senator. Husted later sought a full term but lost to Democrat Sherrod Brown, who had represented Ohio in the Senate from January 2007 until January 2025.
Several Senate Seats Were Up for Grabs
In addition to the seat previously held by Vance, another 34 Senate seats were contested during the election. PBS had earlier reported that 13 of those seats were considered likely to change party control.
Before Election Day, Republicans held seats in Alaska, Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas.
One of the most closely watched contests took place in Texas.
In early October, President Donald Trump joked that Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton could “be a pain in the ass sometimes.” His remarks came after leaked audio reportedly revealed Paxton criticizing Trump’s midterm convention, saying it had hurt his campaign, according to The New York Times.
Paxton had defeated Texas Sen. John Cornyn in a Republican primary runoff in May, following Trump’s late endorsement. He then faced Democratic challenger James Talarico in the general election. Talarico had maintained a narrow lead in the closely watched race during the months leading up to Election Day.
Talarico ultimately won the seat, marking the first time a Democrat had won a Texas U.S. Senate election since 1988.
Kansas and South Carolina Also See Historic Results
Kansas voters also made history by electing Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, to the Senate.
Hamilton became the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate election in Kansas since 1932. He defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall.
In South Carolina, voters selected pediatrician Annie Andrews over Sen. Darline Graham, the sister of the late Lindsey Graham. The result marked the first Democratic victory in a U.S. Senate election in the state since 1998.
As of publication, several major Senate races, including contests in Maine and Michigan, had not yet been officially called.
