Democrats secure control of Congress and majority of governorships
Counting continues in Alaska, but Democrats have won 255 House seats and 55 Senate seats, flipping key states including Texas and Ohio.
By Lauren Foster ·
Voting from the November 3 midterm elections continued to be tallied through Friday, November 13, as the results solidified a Democratic majority in both chambers of Congress. The party also regained control of the majority of state governorships for the first time since 2010. Voters cast ballots in what many viewed as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s administration, driven by rising costs of living and opposition to the war in Iran.
In the House of Representatives, Democrats have secured 255 of the 435 seats, well above the 218 needed for a majority. Republicans hold 169 seats, with 11 races still pending. The Democratic opposition flipped 44 seats from Republicans, while Republicans took only three from Democrats. According to Cook Political Report, Democrats received 66.2 million votes nationwide, or 56.2 percent, compared to 49.9 million votes, or 42.4 percent, for Republicans. This represents the largest Democratic victory since 1974, following the Watergate scandal and the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
The Senate saw a similar shift, with Democrats claiming 55 seats against 44 for Republicans. The final outcome awaits the resolution of the Alaska race, where Democratic candidate Mary Peltola leads Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan by approximately 5,800 votes with 88 percent of the count in. Democrats captured eight seats from Republicans, including in North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, and Texas. James Talarico won the Texas seat, drawing national attention for his progressive Christian message. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won the contested seat, becoming the first Muslim to serve in the Senate.
Statewide results indicate Democrats will govern 29 of the 50 states, compared to 20 for Republicans, pending the final certification in Alaska. The party took five governorships from Republicans in Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas. Gina Hinojosa is set to become the first Latina governor of Texas, while Keisha Lance Bottoms will be the first Black woman to govern a U.S. state after her win in Georgia. In Alaska, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins leads the count and would become the first Democratic governor in the state since 2002 if confirmed.
The House leadership transition is scheduled for January when the new Congress convenes. Hakeem Jeffries, the current Democratic leader in the chamber, is positioned to be elected as the first Black speaker of the institution. No further major certification deadlines were announced for the remaining pending races beyond the standard certification processes in Alaska.
