Democrats pulled off a dramatic midterm election victory on Tuesday flipping the Senate after two years of Republican control in a dramatic blow to President Donald Trump. The party picked up seven Senate seats in the midterm elections, riding a blue wave of victory across the country in a move that will significantly restrain President Trump during the final two years of his second term. The Democrats won seats in Maine, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.
Their victories in Texas and Kansas are the Democrats' first in the states since 1988 and 1932 respectively. They also held a seat in Michigan that was being targeted by the GOP, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Democrats are also hoping to flip the Alaska seat currently held by Republican Senator Dan S.
Sullivan though the result is currently too close to call. Democrats also have a chance to win a Senate seat in Mississippi, widely regarded as a longshot during the campaign. With 96 percent of ballots counted the race remains too close to call, with Democrat Scott Colom on 48.95 percent of the vote, against Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith's 48.94 percent.
Prior to the midterms, Republicans held 53 seats against 47 who caucused with the Democrats. Maine Senator Susan Collins was the only Republican senator representing a state carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Several Democrat-represented states that were narrowly won by Trump when he retook the White House were up for grabs.
These included Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. However, Trump's unpopularity and anger over rising fuel prices and the cost of living meant only the Michigan Senate contest was widely regarded as competitive by election day. By contrast, a number of seats in traditionally Republican states were classed as "too close to call" by leading election observers.
In Michigan, the race was called for El-Sayed following a bitterly fought contest. With 92 percent of the vote counted, El-Sayed led with 52.2 percent of the vote to Republican candidate Mike Rogers's 45.8 percent. Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson to flip an Iowa Senate seat with 50.5 percent of the vote versus 46.4 percent, with 98 percent of the vote counted.
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