US midterms: Democrats on course to flip House, Senate
Democrat Amy Acton became Ohio's first female governor after defeating Trump-backed Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, as Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
Democrat Amy Acton made history by becoming Ohio's first female governor and the first Democrat to hold the position in recent memory, defeating biotech billionaire and 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Her victory came as part of a broader Democratic wave that saw the party flip control of both the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
President Donald Trump reacted to the Democratic gains by distancing himself from the results, posting on Truth Social that the Republican Party would have won in a landslide if he had been on the ballot. I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter, Trump wrote.
Senate Upsets
In one of the biggest upsets of election night, Democrat Annie Andrews narrowly defeated Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina. Graham had been hand-picked by President Trump and was seeking to replace her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, who died earlier this year. Andrews' victory, combined with Roy Cooper's win in North Carolina, secured two of the four seats Democrats needed to gain a Senate majority.
Cooper, the former governor of North Carolina, defeated Republican Michael Whatley to flip a seat that had been held by Republicans. The state had voted for Trump in the previous three presidential elections, making this victory particularly significant for Democrats.
Historic Governor Wins
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms made history by becoming the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state, winning in Georgia after defeating Republican Rick Jackson. A former Atlanta mayor, Bottoms focused her campaign on expanding Medicaid, lowering family costs, and protecting voting rights.
What we do in this moment will echo through history.
In Florida, Trump ally Byron Donalds became the state's first African American governor, defeating Democrat David Jolly. Meanwhile, Republican Ashley Moody held Marco Rubio's former Senate seat, prevailing 51% to 48% against Democrat Angie Nixon.
Young Voters Shift
According to AP Voter Poll data, young voters swung away from Republicans in this election. While young voters make up only about 10% of the electorate, approximately 7 in 10 voters under 30 nationally supported Democratic House candidates, a significant shift from 2024 when voters under 30 were evenly split between Trump and Kamala Harris.
Democrat Jon Ossoff, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, won reelection in Georgia and interpreted the results as a rebuke of Trump. The American people have rebuked the depravity, corruption and incompetence of the failed lame duck President Donald J. Trump, Ossoff told supporters.
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