US midterm elections 2026: Is the Republican stronghold crumbling? Democrats make historic gains in Senate and House elections

Long-considered Republican strongholds slipped into the Democrats' tally in Tuesday's elections for both Senate and House races.

According to The New York Times, Democrats have taken over a Maine Senate seat. They also show a very strong position in taking control of Congress. This Democratic sweep comes as a huge blow to the Republicans from American voters. Democrats have reclaimed at least seven Senate seats. Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Texas elected Democrats in the races for governor.

There are many firsts for the Democrats in the midterm elections this year. From electing the first openly gay senator to the first-ever woman and first Muslim to the Senate, American voters have some surprising choices in choosing their senators this time.


Becoming the first Muslim senator in the history of the United States, El-Sayed wins the Michigan seat, reports the Associated Press. El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers, who was eyeing his second term in the Senate race.

After 94 long years, Kansas elected its Democratic senator again. Adam Hamilton (with 50.9% or 556,414 votes) became the first Democrat in Kansas to serve as senator since 1932. George S. McGill was the last Democratic senator who served Kansas 94 years ago. Hamilton put up a tough fight against Republican opponent Roger Marshall, who got 46.1% or 503,230 votes, as of November 4, 2:44 a.m. E.T., The New York Times reports.

This victory extended to at least six other states, where Democrats took over control after decades of waiting. There had been no Democratic senators in Texas, Maine, and South Carolina since 1988 and 1998, respectively. It is after 18 years that Iowa and North Carolina voters have chosen a Democratic senator again.

Chris Pappas (New Hampshire) became the first openly gay senator to be chosen; Peggy Flanagan (Minnesota) became the first Native American woman senator. Annie Andrews (South Carolina) will be serving as the first-ever woman senator in the state. Josh Turek is reported to be the first U.S. senator who was previously a Paralympian, according to The New York Times.