US midterms: Democrats gain control of Senate — follow live

Democrats are projected to gain control of the Senate after flipping seats in at least six states, including shock wins in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina. The development would hand both houses of Congress to Trump's opponents, with Republicans losing in both battleground and traditionally Republican states.

As the day ended, Democrats managed to flip Senate seats in at least six states, including shock wins in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina. Many more statewide results are still expected, but for now, the midterm elections have changed the balance of power in Washington, in a major rebuke to Donald Trump.

Historic wins in Republican strongholds

Democrat and Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton pulled off a stunning upset in Kansas, defeating Republican Senator Roger Marshall. The win flips another seat once believed to be safely Republican, after shock Democratic victories in states like South Carolina. Hamilton's was historic victory, as Kansas Democrats had not won a Senate race in 94 years.

To win, Hamilton ran as a centrist, seeking to appeal to moderate Republicans and independent voters, frustrated with the rising cost of living and unhappy with Trump's handling of the economy and the war with Iran. The Democrat managed to raise more money than Marshall, as he received from Kansas residents and Democratic groups, which poured tens of millions of dollars into the state.

Republicans attempted to rescue Marshall's campaign, with Trump flying to Kansas to hold two rallies in October. Democrat James Talarico won the Texas US Senate race, defeating President Donald Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, according to AP data. The win was monumental for Democrats who had not won a Senate election in Texas in 38 years.

Talarico, a four-term state legislator, overcame a flood of heavy outside spending, in what became the most expensive Senate race of the cycle. Billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk poured over $200 million in support of Paxton's campaign. Supporters of the Talarico campaign in Austin, Texas were jubilant, DW correspondent Mischa Komadovsky reported.

Governor races shift political landscape

The night was a political earthquake in Texas, as Democrat Gina Hinojosa captured the governorship, unseating incumbent Governor Greg Abbott. The 52-year-old attorney and state lawmaker, courted independents and voters disillusioned by Trump's unpopular war in Iran and skyrocketing prices. The two victories could signal that Texas, the country's second most populous state could become competitive in national elections.

Democrat Amy Acton became the first Democrat to become Ohio Governor after defeating Donald Trump-backed Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton's stunning win also means she is the first-ever woman to hold the Midwestern state's top post. Acton, a public health physician and former state health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, beat biotech billionaire Ramaswamy, who had run for the 2024 presidential election.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms made history by capturing the governorship in the state of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman elected to the top office in any US state, according to Associated Press election projections. A former Atlanta mayor, Bottoms defeated billionaire health care executive Republican Rick Jackson. The two were contesting the outgoing Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who was term-limited.

Trump distances himself from results

US President Donald Trump spoke for the first time about the ongoing election results, as sweeping Democratic victories continued. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the Republican Party would have won in a "landslide" if he had been running, appearing to distance himself from the results, implying that the election was not related to his performance as president.

"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 said. Meanwhile, Democrat Jon Ossoff, who has won reelection in Georgia, said that his party's "sweeping and decisive" victories show that American voters reject US President Donald Trump.

"The American people have rebuked the depravity, corruption and incompetence of the failed lame duck President Donald J. Trump," Ossoff told supporters after retaining his seat against Republican challenger Mike Collins. The results leave Republicans holding a roughly 1.5 million voter registration advantage over Democrats, but with significantly less power in Washington.