Democrats Win Senate, Flipping Texas and Kansas

Texas and Kansas, states that backed Donald Trump by double digits in 2024, have sent Democrats to the Senate, helping the party win at least 54 seats. The wins cap a night when voters also gave Democrats control of the House, sharply rebuking the president and his party. Two Senate races are still undecided, but neither can reverse the shift in control.^1,2

That shift came through a string of Republican losses across the country. Democrats won seven Senate seats from Republicans, including in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa and North Carolina, while Maine also changed hands. In the House, Democrats passed the 218 seats needed for control and could finish with a large majority, though counts differ as dozens of races remain undecided. The Senate and House together make federal laws, and both move into Democratic hands in January.^3,5

The January handover gives Democrats power to investigate the administration and shape laws, but not an easy path to pass them. President Trump has said he will work with Democrats while warning that he will veto bills he opposes. The election also exposed a fight inside the Republican Party over the eight-month Iran war: Vice President JD Vance blamed it for the losses, while Trump defended continuing the conflict. Voters’ concerns about rising costs and the economy added to the rebuke.^3,14,16

The final Senate map is not settled: Alaska and Mississippi are still counting votes. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom led Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by 0.1% with 96% counted. Alaska’s race was also too close to call.^3,4 Democrats will take control when the new Congress meets in January. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has promised to focus on affordability and oversight, while Trump keeps the power to veto their bills.^12,14