Democrats scored sweeping victories in the U.S. midterm elections on Wednesday, flipping key Republican-held seats in Congress and securing historic wins in traditionally conservative states, as voters delivered a setback to President Donald Trump.
The party was projected to gain control of both chambers of Congress, with victories across several battleground states threatening to constrain Trump’s legislative agenda for the remaining two years of his presidency.
Here are some of the scenes from polling stations, campaign headquarters and election-night celebrations across the United States.
Heading to the polls
Voters cast their ballots inside a polling location at the Bridge of Hope Church on November 3, 2026 in Youngstown, Ohio. Americans go to the polls in consequential midterm elections, where control of the House and the Senate is at stake for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
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Election workers celebrate as balloons are dropped when the polls closed at the Registrar of Voters in Kearny Mesa.
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Texas
Republican Senate candidate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a midterm election night watch party at the Westin Galleria Dallas after conceding to his opponent, Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico.
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Among the biggest surprises was Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton to become the state’s first Democratic U.S. senator since 1988.
Fellow Democrat Gina Hinojosa also unseated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, becoming the state’s first Latina governor and ending more than three decades of Republican control of the office.
Supporters cheer during a midterm election night watch party for Texas Democratic Senate candidate, State Rep. James Talarico at the Long Center on Nov. 3, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
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People watching results on a screen during a midterm election night watch party. Paxton conceded the race to Democrat, state Rep. Talarico.
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North Carolina
Democrat senatorial candidate Roy Cooper and his wife Kristin Cooper celebrate victory during an election night event in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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In North Carolina, former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper flipped a Republican-held Senate seat after defeating Trump-backed Michael Whatley. Cooper will succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced his departure after clashing with Trump over his tax and spending legislation.
Georgia
Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat from Georgia, arrives for an election night event in Atlanta.
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In Georgia, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff secured reelection against Trump-backed Republican Mike Collins, while former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governor’s race, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state.
Representative Mike Collins, a Republican from Georgia and U.S. Senate candidate, during an election night event in Atlanta. Democratic Sen. Ossoff secured reelection against Trump-backed Republican Collins.
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Meanwhile, in Ohio, former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown staged a political comeback, defeating Republican incumbent Jon Husted in a closely watched Senate race.
The elections were widely viewed as a referendum on Trump’s second term, with concerns over the cost of living, inflation and the war in Iran weighing on voter sentiment.
—CNBC’s Danielle DeVries contributed to this article.
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