2026 midterm election updates as fallout begins over sweeping Democratic victories

Democrats have won Michigan House seats held by Republicans, CBS News projects.

Progressive William Lawrence beat one-term Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in the Lansing-area 7th District, in one of the nation's most closely watched House races. Lawrence, a climate activist who co-founded the Sunrise Movement and is a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won the Democratic nomination by defeating two moderate candidates who split the vote.

Democrat Sean McCann defeated GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga in the 4th District, which includes Kalamazoo and parts of Western Michigan.

And in the Detroit suburbs, Democrat Christina Hines beat Republican Michael Bouchard in the 10th District. The seat is currently represented by GOP Rep. John James, who ran unsuccessfully for Michigan governor.

GOP Rep. David Valadao lost his reelection bid in California's 22nd District, CBS News projected. 

Valadao's loss against Democrat Randy Villegas makes him the last of the House Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump over the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol to lose reelection or announce their retirement. 

Valadao was first elected in 2012, but lost in 2018 when Democrats flipped more than 40 seats and won back control of the House. He won the seat back from Democrats in 2020, and went on to become one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump. Only two remain in Congress — Valadao and Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, who is retiring. 

Read more here.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced he also intends to run for House minority leader, telling GOP colleagues in a five-page letter that the election outcome "was far worse than any of us expected." 

"This is no doubt a challenging time for our conference, but overcoming adversity is nothing new to me. We will need to be honest with ourselves about what happened, but it is more important now than ever for us to emerge from this stronger and united because the stakes couldn't be higher," the Louisiana Republican said. 

"Next Congress will be difficult: we will no longer control the committee agenda or the House Floor, but we are not powerless," he said. "By staying united and acting as a team, we can disrupt their agenda and secure wins along the way. We have big tasks ahead, and tested leadership is needed now more than ever." 

Asked whether he is considering removing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Mr. Trump said he is not.

"I think he's done a very good job," the president said.

CBS News reported earlier Wednesday that Mr. Trump has been asking his advisers whether Hegseth should remain as defense secretary.

He was interrupted at times by construction workers cheering as they worked to lift the final beam for the ballroom. The president then briefly urged the press pool to view the new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House.

President Trump didn't say whether he knew Vice President JD Vance was going to make his post blaming the Iran war for the GOP's midterm losses. But he gave a nod of approval. 

"I know how he feels about it," Mr. Trump said. "I think it was fine. I thought it was good."

But the president, who said he spoke to Vance on Wednesday morning, added that he doesn't know who will run in 2028, including Vance. 

"Maybe he won't run," the president said. "I don't know who's going to run."

Continuing to speak to reporters at the ballroom, the president again blamed Republican candidates for massive losses Tuesday night, saying there was so much "love" at his rallies. 

"If I was on the ballot, we would have won," he said. "But they just — you couldn't transfer that love. There was such love at those rallies, it was incredible. And we weren't able to transfer the love to candidates." 

Asked about Vance's view that Republicans lost control of the House and Senate because of the conflict with Iran, Mr. Trump said it's "largely true" because the war drove up the price of gasoline.

"If I had to do it again, I'd have to do it again," the president said, adding, "You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon."

Mr. Trump said he believes the Iran war was worth losing seats in the Senate.

"You have no choice," he said. "I thought the oil would go up a lot more, and I did it on that basis. You have no choice; you have to do it. You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon or everything that you see here some day might not exist."

Mr. Trump clarified that he does not believe the war itself is to blame for Republicans' losses, but the price of gasoline.

Reporters asked President Trump if advisers recommended against making his final speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the eve of the election. The president insisted it was unrelated, even though a White House official before the speech said his message would be that Democrats are too radical for the country.  

"No, I heard it was a very good speech," he said. "Got great reviews. That was only a speech on the Reflecting Pool though, had nothing to do with anything else."

Taking questions from reporters, President Trump declined to weigh in on the race for House Republican leader. 

"We'll stay out of it," he said, mentioning Republican Rep. Jim Jordan by name but not weighing in. Rep. Steve Scalise, the current majority leader, is also likely to throw his hat in the ring for Republican leader. 

Mr. Trump said Speaker Mike Johnson, who will not run for another term leading the conference, "was fantastic." 

Mr. Trump handed off the microphone to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who said workers and Mr. Trump were assembled for a "beam signing" that marks the final beam going into place in the White House ballroom.

"Today, of course, is a day of celebration and a day of gratitude," Burgum said, calling the president "our builder-in-chief, the greatest builder that has ever been president of the United States."

Mr. Trump acknowledged that he has faced questions about the time and attention he has devoted to construction projects at the White House and said he finds it "relaxing" because he "loves construction."

"I like beautiful things and especially when it comes to the White House," he said.

Mr. Trump said he has made changes to the White House because it is the "ultimate symbol of America."

"It's got to be pristine," he said. "It's got to be perfect."

The president and Burgum then each signed their names to the beam as workers prepared to hoist it in the air.

The president continued his remarks praising the ballroom and the changes his administration has brought to D.C.

He claimed Washington was a "killing field" under former President Joe Biden, reiterating his assertion that it's now one of the safest cities in the U.S. The president didn't go into his metrics for determining that. 

"We're very happy about Washington, D.C.," the president said. 

Mr. Trump, so far, has not discussed the midterm results.

Mr. Trump criticized the cost of renovations at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., calling it "out of control" and a  "shame."

The president said the Fed is over-budget for its revamp of its headquarters and questioned the central bank's decisionmaking on interest rates.

"What happens at the Federal Reserve is a disgrace with it, and then they tell you about interest rates," he said. "They can't build a simple building."

Mr. Trump went on to praise the security features of the ballroom, which he said will be the "safest place" in Washington.

"This is the most powerful building, structurally the most powerful building they say ever built," the president said.

Mr. Trump thanked construction workers assembled for his remarks, calling them "special people."

"I grew up with you, you know, every one of you. I grew up with you, maybe in a different form, maybe genetically, maybe it was your fathers or your mothers," he said. "But I grew up in construction sites."

Without mentioning Republicans' catastrophic losses, President Trump focused his first televised remarks, from the site of the under-construction White House ballroom, on how he's "beautified" Washington, D.C., and the White House. 

"We beautified it. We got rid of the homeless encampments," the president said of the capital, praising the brand new grass and graffiti removal in the city.  

"This is a special structure," he said of the ballroom site. "It's going to be not only one of the biggest, but it'll be the most beautiful ballroom I think anywhere in the world."

President Trump is speaking to reporters from the construction site of the new White House ballroom in his first public appearance since Republicans lost control of the House and Senate.

Mr. Trump praised the new ballroom and helipad on the South Lawn of the White House, calling it a "thing of beauty." He discussed his other construction projects in Washington, D.C., including his proposed arch outside Arlington National Cemetery and renovation of East Potomac Golf Links.

President Trump highlighted stock market highs Wednesday, which followed Tuesday night's Republican defeats. The Dow Jones, Nasdaq and S&P 500 were all up Wednesday morning, with the Dow up 2.8%.

"Stock Market just hit another Record High — 91 Days in just a short period of time — Less than two years," the president wrote on Truth Social. "Your 401(k)s are through the roof. Record Setting All!"

The president did not connect the stock market gains to Republican losses. 

Speaking at a press conference with House Democratic leadership, Rep. Ted Lieu, vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, laid out the legislative agenda the party plans to pursue. 

"When Democrats are in control, we're going to focus on affordability," Lieu said. "We will pass a bill to reverse the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history enacted by Republicans. We will pass a bill to restore the ACA tax credits. We will pass a bill to stop the stupid Trump tariffs jacking up prices on Americans. And we will pass a bill to stop the Iran war."

In response to reporting from CBS News that President Trump is asking advisers if Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should go, the White House said Mr. Trump has "complete confidence" in his defense secretary. 

"After Joe Biden's Pentagon prioritized DEI and woke ideology, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth quickly reversed course and restored a Department of War that is focused on readiness, lethality, and supporting our warfighters," said Anna Kelly, White House principal deputy press secretary. 

Kelly said the president "has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth" and the "incredible results of Operations Epic Fury, Absolute Resolve, and Midnight Hammer [speak] for themselves."

Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, endorsed Vance's view that the war in Iran is to blame for the GOP losing their majorities in both chambers of Congress.

In a post on X, Trump Jr. shared Vance's earlier message and wrote: "Every word of this is 💯💯💯"

At a press conference in Washington, Senate Minority Leader Schumer said Tuesday night's victories ushered in a "generational remake of the Senate map" with "huge consequences for history."

"But with this majority, Americans have given we Democrats the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy of their trust, and that's the most important job," he said. 

The New York Democrat said many people remain skeptical. But he stressed that Americans have "entrusted us with the majority to do what they, the American people, want."

"Republicans received that opportunity two years ago, and completely squandered it," Schumer said. "The GOP misread Americans' demand for change as a mandate to do Trump's self-serving bidding, and Trump spent half his time talking about things that were irrelevant to their lives."

Schumer added: "Republicans are going to have to choose whether to keep listening to the nonsense that's coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, or start acting in the interests of the American people."

President Trump has been asking advisers around him and on the phone whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should stay in his job, following Republicans' catastrophic losses Tuesday night, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell CBS News. 

Some White House aides have predicted some of the blame for GOP midterm losses will be trained on Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, who both played big roles in guidance on the Iran war.

One source told CBS News that GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being floated as a possible replacement for Hegseth, arguing DeSantis could go through Senate confirmation in the lame-duck period and then take the post when his term as governor expires Jan. 5. 

Still, other sources said the president hasn't decided to replace Hegseth. 

Read more here.

Democrat Scott Colom, who is locked in a tight Senate race with incumbent GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, said he is "very happy" with where the race stands and predicted that he will ultimately prevail.

"The people of Mississippi turned out in historic numbers to make this race possible in a midterm election," he said during a press conference.

Colom's campaign has estimated there are 15,000 affidavit ballots that still have to be counted, and he said his campaign is going to "make sure the law is followed."

"I think that anybody who can look at the math should be able to know where this is going," he said.

Colom expressed confidence that he will end up victorious against Hyde-Smith.

"The bottom line is this is the beginning of a new direction for our state. We are going to win this. We have already shown the country that Mississippi matters, y'all," he said.

Mississippi hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982.

CBS News has rated the race between Colom and Hyde-Smith a toss-up, with the Democratic Senate candidate leading by just several dozen votes as of Wednesday morning.

In his first public comments on the election results, Vice President JD Vance said the reason Republicans were handedly defeated in the House and Senate is because of the war in Iran.

"The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night," Vance wrote in a post on X. "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest. But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there."

The vice president, a possible 2028 contender, said many voters who backed the Trump-Vance ticket in 2024 cast their ballots for Democrats in 2026 for four reasons: to end the war with Iran, focus on the cost of living and inflation, put America first and change the U.S. relationship with Israel.

"Our voters showed up," Vance wrote. "And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats."

The vice president highlighted Fox News host Rachel Campos Duffy's call to reach a "diplomatic resolution" to the conflict with Iran, saying that her recommendation was "sound." Vance spent much of the spring leading U.S. negotiators in talks aimed at ending the conflict and reached an ill-fated agreement with Iran to halt the fighting that soon fell apart.

Vance said an unnamed data analyst told him that voters who backed him and Mr. Trump in 2024 were angry and would vote for Democrats in the midterms. He said that analysis "looks prophetic now."

"Our voters did show up," he wrote. "In Florida, for example, the electorate was 9 points more Republican than Democrat, just a couple points worse than 2024. Undoubtedly there were places we could have done better on turnout. But the main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026. "

Vance also said it's likely that the GOP's economic messaging "wasn't sharp enough" in the closing weeks of the campaign.

"I remain hopeful about our country," he said. "To the people who are pissed off and want to say, 'I told you so': you're right, you did tell us so. Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let's take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country."

House Speaker Mike Johnson said on his call with his staff that he will not run for minority leader in the new Congress, according to a source familiar with the matter, stepping aside following the GOP's losses in the midterm elections.

Read more here.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is holding an all-staff call Wednesday morning following Republicans' projected loss of House control, a source familiar with the meeting confirmed to CBS News.

The call comes as Johnson's future in House GOP leadership remains uncertain.

Democrats are projected to control at least 54 Senate seats, with two races still unresolved. In the House, CBS News estimates the party could control between 251 and 268 when all the votes are counted.

Out of 11 Senate races that CBS News considered battlegrounds, Democrats were projected to win 10. The 11th race, in Alaska, is still rated a toss-up as results come in. 

The Mississippi Senate race has emerged as unexpectedly close, with Democrat Scott Colom leading incumbent GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by just 43 votes. CBS News has rated the race as a toss-up.

The victories weren't just limited to House and Senate races, either. Democrats captured the governor's mansion in Texas, a feat they haven't accomplished since 1990. 

Read more here about the major races that propelled Democrats to victory on Tuesday, according to CBS News' projections.

Democrat James Talarico told "CBS Mornings" that his win over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race delivered a message to Elon Musk, who spent more than $150 million to boost Paxton's candidacy: "Texas is not for sale."

Hours after his projected win over Paxton, Talarico said his victory is an opportunity to get big money out of politics "for good."

"The people of Texas delivered a crystal-clear message to the world's first trillionaire: Texas is not for sale," Talarico said. "The power in this state, in this country, belongs to the people and we've got to make sure it stays that way."

The Texas Democrat said his win over Paxton is a mandate to overhaul the campaign finance system and "clean up government" to limit the influence of megadonors like Musk.

Read more here.

Melat Kiros, who defeated Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado's primary in July, was born in 1997, the same year DeGette began her decadeslong congressional career.

On Tuesday night, the 29-year-old democratic socialist made history as the first Generation Z woman to be elected to Congress. Kiros joins Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida, who in 2022 was the first member of the generation born between 1997 and 2012 to win a congressional seat. 

In an interview with CBS News, Kiros declined to say what advice she's received from Frost about entering Congress as the youngest member, but said he's "been really wonderful in helping me get a sense of what it's like walking into this institution as young as we are." 

She knows she has a lot to learn: "What's intimidating is the sheer amount of knowledge that is necessary to be able to be effective in Congress, and that's going to take time to grow and build." 

Read more here.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who won his reelection race on Tuesday by a wide margin, said the party's victories in his state provided a blueprint for how Democrats can win elsewhere.

"I think what we showed last night is we are a big tent party. What we also showed last night, here in the toughest swing state in the entire country, that we elected candidates who could compete everywhere, who attracted the support of Republicans and independents along with Democrats," Shapiro told "CBS Mornings." 

He added: "I do think it's important that we have an ideological conversation with our family to determine what our party looks like going forward. That's a healthy thing, and that's an important thing, and it needs to be done, with a focus on how we can deliver for people, how we can enable real fundamental change and reform in this country, and importantly, how we can win in these tough states across the country."

Shapiro took credit for recruiting the four Democratic candidates who ousted House GOP incumbents in his state, calling them "get-stuff-done Democrats."

"What they all had in common was a desire for fundamental change. What they all had in common was that these were commonsense Democrats who ran hard. I campaigned for each one of them, worked hard for each of them and we knew that these four had the ability, if they won, to tilt the balance of power in Washington and make Hakeem Jeffries the speaker," he said.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the governor-elect of Georgia, said she was surprised that news outlets projected her victory so early in the evening on Tuesday. 

"I put in my AirPods to work on my speech, and my husband was on the sofa near me, laying near me, and he kicked me, and I went like, 'What?' And he said, 'They called it,' and I said, 'Called what?' And so that's how I knew," she said. 

CBS News projected Bottoms' victory shortly before 9:30 p.m. Polls closed in Georgia at 7 p.m.

Bottoms, who will become Georgia's first Black governor and the first Black woman governor anywhere in the U.S., said she thought the result would be closer.

"I thought that it was going to be a very long night. I knew that we had done the work, but Georgia has always, for the past few years, been a purple state, so I thought it would be much closer," she said.

Jon Rosenthal has become the first Democrat to win a Texas Railroad Commissioner race since 1990, CBS News projects, after Republican Bo French refused to reconsider his racist, anti-Muslim and antisemitic comments.

The powerful Texas railroad commission does not deal with railroads, but instead regulates the state's massive oil and gas industry. There are three total commissioners — the other two are Republicans. 

Read more here.

Two Senate races remain toss-ups: Alaska and Mississippi.

Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are locked in a tight contest. Vote-counting could take some time in the race, which was shaken up last week by allegations that operatives linked to Peltola helped recruit a candidate with the same first and last name as Sullivan — which Peltola's team denied.

The Mississippi race between GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith and Democrat Scott Colom also remains close — a contest that was not widely viewed as competitive prior to Tuesday.

Democrats won control of the House, but about 75 races have yet to be determined. 

We're awaiting results in a number of competitive races, including some that are unexpectedly close: 

• Arizona's 1st District: Republican Jay Feely vs. Democrat Amish Shah
• Arizona's 6th District: Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani vs. Democrat JoAnna Mendoza 
• California's 22nd District: GOP Rep. David Valadao vs. Democrat Randy Villegas
• Colorado's 4th District: GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert vs. Democrat Eileen Laubacher 
• Colorado's 5th District: GOP Rep. Jeff Crank vs. Democrat Jessica Killin 
• Michigan's 4th District: GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga vs. Democrat Sean McCann
• Michigan's 7th District: Republican Rep. Tom Barrett vs. Democrat William Lawrence 
• Montana's 1st District: Republican Aaron Flint vs. Democrat Sam Forstag
• Florida's 7th District: Democrat Bale Dalton vs. Republican Ryan Elijah 
• Florida's 9th District: Democratic Rep. Darren Soto vs. Republican Dan Green
• Florida's 13th District: GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna vs. Democrat Leela Gray
• Florida's 27th District: GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar vs. Democrat Eliott Rodriguez
• New York's 17th District: GOP Rep. Mike Lawlor vs. Democrat Cait Conley
• North Carolina's 1st District: Democratic Rep. Don Davis vs. Republican Laurie Buckhout
• North Carolina's 9th District: GOP Rep. Richard Hudson vs. Democrat Richard Ojeda
• Virginia's 1st District: GOP Rep. Rob Wittman vs. Democrat Shannon Taylor
  
• Washington's 3rd District: Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez vs. Republican John Braun

GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts won reelection in the Nebraska Senate race, CBS News projects, defeating independent Dan Osborn. 

Ricketts, 62, is a former Nebraska governor who was appointed to the Senate in 2023. He faced off against Osborn, a former union leader who was making his second Senate bid.

Read more here.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a key negotiator in U.S.-Iran talks, recognized Tuesday's election results — and linked them to the high consumer prices wrought by the Iran war.

"Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message," he wrote on social media. "If the US govt betrays their public will to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare."

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race, CBS News projects, becoming the nation's first Muslim senator and retaining the seat for Democrats after one of the most contentious contests of the midterm elections.

His win came after a last-minute shakeup in the race, with former Democratic primary opponent Haley Stevens endorsing Rogers over the weekend.

Read more here.

In his first public comments since Democrats notched House and Senate victories, billionaire Elon Musk wrote on X: "Data centers in space looking pretty appealing right now."

The world's richest man spent hundreds of millions of dollars assisting Republican congressional candidates. His biggest investment came in the Texas Senate race, which Republican Ken Paxton lost to Democrat James Talarico.

Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Kansas since 1932 on Tuesday — a feat that required him to convince a large number of Republicans to cross the aisle and vote for him, even if that meant losing the Senate majority for their preferred party.

CBS News asked what he thinks Democrats should do first. He said they should end the war in Iran, address tariffs, lower healthcare costs and restore programs like SNAP — commonly known as food stamps — that were curtailed by the last Congress.  

When asked what Democrats could propose that he wouldn't support on behalf of the Republicans who voted for him, he said he believed in a strong border.

"I am an independent-minded Democrat. I'm going to work across the aisle so that Republicans and Democrats take into account each other's concerns," he told CBS News.

Hamilton now has the task of representing his bipartisan coalition in a Congress where Democrats have been empowered with control of both houses. Kansas' other Senate seat is held by Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, who Hamilton has said will be his "best friend."

"We are not flyover country. We are the heart of America. And today the heart of America has sent Washington a message: that we are better together than we are divided," Hamilton told supporters in a victory speech.

Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed took the stage in Michigan to declare victory. CBS News has not projected a winner in the race, which remains tight, though Democrats are assessed as the likely winners.

"Michigan, we did it!" El-Sayed said. 

He said he is "so proud and honored" to be their senator-elect. If he wins against Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed will be the first Muslim-American elected to the U.S. Senate. 

"You took a chance on the unlikeliest of candidates, so thank you," he said. "This is all yours."

He thanked voters for inviting him to their churches, synagogues and homes.

"Thank you for your trust and your belief and your kindness," he said. "I'm going to take it all with me and I hope to bring back the kind of leadership that more than earns it." 

El-Sayed said his opponents weren't just targeting and attacking him, "they were targeting and attacking you." 

"They want an America that is too small for some of us. We know that America is big enough for all of us," he said. 

It was a bitter race. El-Sayed's vehement criticism of the Israeli government drew stiff pushback from Republicans and some moderate Democrats in both the primary and general election, and President Trump frequently made incendiary comments about El-Sayed, calling him "Mohammad" and saying he should be forced to go through a metal detector. He pointed to that bitterness during his speech early Wednesday.

"So Mike, enjoy your retirement!" El-Sayed said, telling him to enjoy his yachts.

"You chose hate, and Michigan chose hope," he said. "May we never have to see the likes of you in the state again."

"JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January," he said, before nodding to Vice President JD Vance's Ohio heritage. "So you know what that means! Wolverine one, buckeye zero!"

"Donald, look, I know you've struggled with my name," he said. "So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me senator."

"To the super PACs and special interests who tried to beat us, we are coming for your system of politics," he said. "To AIPAC, who spent $42 million against us, thank you for giving me the opportunity to beat you twice."

Former President Barack Obama said American voters sent a "clear message," but Democrats now need to "roll up our sleeves."

"Tonight, the American people sent a clear message — they want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them, and leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they face," said the former president, who held several rallies for Democratic candidates in recent weeks. 

"These results were only possible because outstanding candidates stepped forward in every region of the country — including in areas once considered long shots," he said. "They came from different backgrounds and represented a range of political perspectives, but were united by shared values, a belief in public service, and a commitment to putting the people of their districts and states first."

He also expressed gratitude to election officials and volunteers. 

"While this administration has another two years in office, our job now is to roll up our sleeves, make changes wherever we have the power to do so, prevent further damage, and lay the groundwork for the future," he said. 

Embattled GOP Rep. Max Miller lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Brian Poindexter in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, CBS News projected. 

Miller defied calls over the summer to end his campaign before a deadline that would have allowed Republicans to replace him on the November ballot amid allegations of domestic abuse toward his ex-wife and young daughter. The allegations, which Miller denied, put the northeastern Ohio district long held by Republicans in play. 

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the race as solid Republican earlier this year, but shifted the contest to a toss-up in August. 

Read more here.

Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is in an unexpectedly close fight to keep her Senate seat. She and Democrat Scott Colom are neck-and-neck in Mississippi, with nearly all of the votes in.

When Republican Sen. Susan Collins was reelected in 2020, she narrowly won women voters. But exit polls show that on Tuesday, they backed Democrat Troy Jackson, who is projected to defeat Collins.

While Collins often tries to distance herself from President Trump, women voters and most Maine voters overall said she was too supportive of the president. 

And Mr. Trump's tariffs are not popular here. Most Maine voters (69%) feel they have harmed their local economy. Many in the state said the cost of living was a crucial factor in their vote and they voted for Jackson by a 33-point margin.

Even though more voters thought Collins would do a better job than Jackson getting federal funding for Maine, that wasn't enough to push her over the top.

Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers expressed confidence, telling supporters early Wednesday morning, "there is a path for us to win this thing."

"Guess what's left? It's coming our way," he said.

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed currently has a lead, but around one-third of the vote is still uncounted. CBS News assesses that the seat is a likely Democratic win, but has not projected a winner.

Rogers said: "We're very, very confident we're going to turn this thing around," before telling supporters to get some sleep.

Polls closed in Alaska at 1 a.m. ET, meaning all voting in the United States has concluded. 

The Senate race in Alaska will be closely watched, by anyone still awake. 

In his victory speech in Texas, Democratic Senator-elect James Talarico compared his victory and his story to the biblical story of David and Goliath. 

"In this race, we went up against our own Goliaths — the richest man in the world, the most powerful man in the world, and the entire Washington, D.C. establishment," Talarico said. 

"David wasn't as big or as strong as Goliath," he continued. "He didn't have as many weapons. But he had hope. He had faith. And he had a slingshot. You were my slingshot. The people of Texas were my slingshot. And tonight, and tonight, we defeated Goliath."

Earlier in the evening, Paxton congratulated Talarico, saying he would pray for him. 

Democrat Troy Jackson defeated GOP Sen. Susan Collins in the Maine Senate race, CBS News projects, in a key victory for Democrats who have sought for decades to oust the Republican senator.

Collins said earlier that she conceded to Jackson.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick lost his race in Pennsylvania's 1st District, CBS News projected, becoming the latest House Republican from the state to lose reelection. 

He lost to Democrat Bob Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner. 

Fitzpatrick, a moderate, was one of the few House Republicans to vote to limit President Trump's ability to further strike Iran. He has a history of outperforming other GOP lawmakers.

Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is likely to defeat Republican candidate Mike Rogers, CBS News estimates. CBS News has not projected a winner in the race.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer — who could be Senate majority leader soon — began his election night remarks by saying "against all odds, we Democrats have won the Senate."

Democrats have five words for Americans, he said: "Relief is on the way." 

Schumer said Republicans made the choice to follow President Trump "over the cliff." 

"The American people reduced the red brick wall to a pile of bricks," he said. 

— Ian McKinney and Maria Sullivan

Democrat Bobby Pulido defeated incumbent Rep. Monica De La Cruz, CBS News projects, flipping the crucial South Texas district that Democrats had heavily targeted after the region had swung toward Republicans in 2024.

Read more here.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he's proud of what Senate Republicans have done, and said he's thankful Republicans still have President Trump in the White House. Thune will no longer be Senate majority leader come January. 

"As we head into 2027, Senate Republicans will not stand idly by as the far-left, socialist wing of the Democrat Party attempts to unwind everything we've done," Thune wrote on X.  "Thankfully, we still have President Trump in the White House, and we'll work with him to stop the worst impulses of Democrat extremism. We cannot let their fringe positions become the mainstream."

Republican Sen. Susan Collins has conceded to Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, ending a decades-long career in Congress. 

CBS News has not projected a winner in the race.

"It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine in the United States Senate. I'm proud of all I have been able to accomplish for our state and for our country in the past 30 years," she said, confirming that she called to congratulate Jackson and "to assure him that my staff and I will work to ensure a smooth transition."

A senior Jackson adviser also told CBS News that Collins conceded.

Taking the stage with his family in Maine, Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson thanked his supporters. 

CBS News has not projected a winner in the race between Jackson and Republican Sen. Susan Collins. 

"We did it! Working people did it!" he said. 

Jackson said he's "so damn proud" to be standing there with everyone. Jackson, a longtime logger, said he relates to the people watching him who are just getting home from shift work. 

"Tonight, or this morning, the people of Maine have elected that logger to the United States Senate," he said. 

Democrats have flipped control of three of Iowa's four House seats.

GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks lost reelection to Democrat Christina Bohannan in Iowa's 1st District in their third consecutive rematch, CBS News projected. The race was expected to be close in the months leading up to the election. As November neared, election forecasters shifted the race in favor of Democrats. 

Democrat Lindsay James defeated Republican Joe Mitchell in Iowa's 2nd District, which is currently held by GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, who lost her bid for Senate.

And GOP Rep. Zach Nunn lost reelection to Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa's 3rd District.

Previewing the likely torrent of congressional investigations following Democrats' House victory, Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement: "Lawyer up."

President Trump said he will accept the results of the midterm elections. 

"Yes, sure I'll accept them. Why wouldn't I?" he told Fox News' Bret Baier.

Democrat Peggy Flanagan defeated Michele Tafoya in the Minnesota Senate race, CBS News projects, defending the seat for Democrats after Sen. Tina Smith opted not to seek reelection. 

Read more here.

In a live interview on Fox News, President Trump said he was "a little bit surprised" by his party's midterm losses.

"I thought they'd do better," he said, pointing to his "tremendous rallies" and "great excitement."

He said he intends to work with congressional Democrats, adding that he spoke with several on Tuesday, though he didn't name them. Asked how he will work with the party, he pointed to his veto power, calling it "impervious" and "one of the stronger powers that a president has."

"And after a couple of months of vetoes, they'll call and they'll say, 'How do we get this stuff done?' And we'll work together," he said.

He predicted: "We can work with them on immigration, I think."

He said Democrats "did a good job" and "fought hard."

He told Fox News he "felt very badly" about GOP Sen. Darline Graham's loss, noting the death of her brother, longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"She's essentially mourning and campaigning at the same time, and then on top of it, this happens," he said.

Otherwise, he largely blamed GOP candidates, saying his base "didn't like the candidates."

"Some of the candidates that I endorsed fought me, and they didn't like that they fought me," he said, noting how loyal his base tends to be.

And he said he doesn't plan to make any changes in his Cabinet.

He acknowledged that the Iran war and its impact on energy prices were likely a drag on his party.

"Historically, I think I'll be judged for having done the right thing, but that gave us an evening that was not that pleasant," the president said.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will begin delivering for Americans as soon as they take control of Congress in January. 

"America is back," he said, to cheers.

CBS News asked Aaron Lehman, the head of the Iowa Farmer's Union, about President Trump's frequent call for Americans to vote like he was on the ballot. 

"They did," he said. 

Democrat Josh Turek won the Senate race against Ashley Hinson. Voters shifted Democratic in rural Iowa. 

Senate races in three normally deep-red states — Louisiana, Nebraska and Mississippi — are currently rated toss-ups by CBS News.

The Louisiana Senate race is a face-off between Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Jamie Davis, and the Mississippi race is between GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom. Prior to election night, neither race was widely viewed as a competitive contest.

The Nebraska Senate race is competitive between independent Dan Osborn and Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. 

Speaking at a watch party in Columbia, South Carolina, Republican Sen. Darlene Graham said it's been a "very difficult few months" — a reference to the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"I lost my dear brother Lindsey and one of our South Carolina's greatest leaders in July," she said. "Since then, I've run in a contentious primary and runoff extending into mid-August, and now a general election. I would trade this all 1,000 times over to have my brother back, but God had a different plan."

President Trump took to Truth Social, saying he will "become a political pundit" on why his favored candidates lost in the midterms. 

He quickly followed through on that promise, writing that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lost because he's a "RINO."

"If Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, hadn't become a RINO in the last six months of his Political Life, he wouldn't have lost," Mr. Trump wrote. "He went back to his original formula, and it wasn't pretty!"

In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton congratulated Democratic Senate winner James Talarico. He is the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 1988.

Keeping his remarks brief, Paxton called it a "difficult" night for Republicans. 

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement congratulating House Democrats, and throwing her support behind House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries for speaker.

"Tonight, the American people have changed the course of our country," she said. "By electing a Democratic House Majority, they have broken Washington's Republican monopoly on power and restored a constitutional check on a President who has governed as though none should exist. They have demanded lower costs, better healthcare and a government that fights for working families."

"With tremendous personal pride, I congratulate our next Speaker, Hakeem Jeffries," she added. "Exactly twenty years after I became the first woman to hold the gavel, he will make history as the first Black Speaker of the House. I know the strength, judgment and resolve that office demands. Hakeem has those qualities in abundance. He has led Democrats to this extraordinary victory, and he will be a magnificent speaker."

Speaking to CBS News' senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, the president congratulated Democrats on their victories. 

"My message is congratulations to the Democrats, and I look forward to working with you for the good of our country," the president said. 

Read more here.

Democrats have gained control of the Senate, CBS News projected shortly after 11:30 p.m.

That means Democrats will be able to block President Trump's nominees, and Democrats will have a better chance at passing legislation. On Tuesday night, the president has said he plans to work with Democrats, but he's also said he will use his veto powers as needed.

Democratic Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek has defeated Republican Ashley Hinson, CBS News projects.

Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated GOP Sen. Roger Marshall in the Kansas Senate race, CBS News projects, unseating the incumbent in a major upset that comes as the state hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly a century.

Read more here.

Speaking on Politico's livestream, President Trump said he'll work with Democrats — and freely use his veto power. During the phone call with Politico's Dasha Burns, which aired live, the president did not argue with the legitimacy of the election results.

"We'll work with the Democrats," the president said. 

Mr. Trump said he'll consider doing everything that's good and appropriate for the country. 

Asked how Democratic control in Congress will change his presidency, he said, "I'll let you know a year from now." 

The president said he'll have a "powerful" veto power, "and if I think it's good, we're just gonna veto." 

On the possibility of further Iran strikes, the president said "we're going to take a look" and decide if further strikes are necessary. 

The president said House Speaker Mike Johnson has done a good job, but declined to fully endorse Johnson to continue to lead Republicans in the House. 

"I think he's done a very good job," the president said, when asked if Johnson should continue to lead Republicans in the House. "I think he's done a good job, they're going to have to make that decision," the president said again, when asked the same question again. 

CBS News assesses the Iowa Senate race as leaning Democratic.

Democrat Josh Turek is facing off against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson.

Democrat Rob Sand has won the Iowa gubernatorial race, CBS News projects, defeating Republican Zach Lahn.

Once a swing state, Iowa has grown increasingly conservative in recent years. But the state has struggled economically in recent years, particularly under tariffs and high energy prices wrought by the Iran war. President Trump's favored gubernatorial candidate — Randy Feenstra — also lost the GOP primary to Lahn.

Democrat Sherrod Brown, a former senator from Ohio, will be a senator once again, CBS News projects. He's defeated Republican Sen. Jon Husted.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has lost to Democrat Gina Hinojosa in his bid for reelection, CBS News projects. After her upset win, Hinojosa will be the first Democrat to serve as Texas governor since Ann Richards in the early 1990s.

Abbott has called Hinojosa to concede, two sources tell CBS News.

Democrat James Talarico will defeat Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, CBS News projects, marking a major flip that Democrats have long sought in the Lone Star State.

CBS News estimates that Democrat Sherrod Brown is likely to win the Ohio Senate race against Republican Sen. Jon Husted. A winner has not yet been projected.

Democrat Amy Acton is the victor in the Ohio gubernatorial race against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, CBS News projects. 

Ramaswamy's controversial ad featuring Acton's estranged mother dominated the news cycle in the race, and Ramaswamy initially stood by the ad before eventually taking it off the air. 

Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who lost his primary race to the now-defeated Ken Paxton, congratulated Democrat James Talarico. 

CBS News has not yet projected a winner in the Texas Senate race, but rates the contest as likely to be won by Talarico.

"The voters have spoken, and I want to extend my congratulations to James Talarico on his election to the U.S. Senate," Cornyn wrote on X. "I look forward to meeting him and offering my assistance with his transition as he prepares to serve Texans in the U.S. Senate."

As Republican losses continue to roll in, President Trump took to Truth Social. 

"I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" he posted. "Thank you for your attention to this matter."

On the campaign trail, the president told voters to "pretend" he was on the ballot. 

After CBS News and other outlets projected Democrats will win the House, Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries posted on X: "Victory for America!"

He will likely be the next speaker of the House.

A senior Republican party strategist directly involved in GOP midterm strategy is placing the blame for the GOP's bad night on one person: President Trump. The operative sent CBS News the president's low approval ratings and said, "The Story of the night."

A separate senior Republican Party official involved in House GOP midterm strategy called it a "bloodbath."

"I don't think anybody imagined the bottom falling out the way it did," the party official said. 

The Senate race in Texas is likely to go to Democrat James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton, CBS News has assessed. 

Biden-era former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg described the midterm results as "absolutely tectonic" during CBS News' election broadcast, saying, "Good news after good news keeps rolling in."

"We are seeing the early signs of something that is less of a result than it is a revolt," he said. "It is a sign that the American people are comprehensively rejecting Donald Trump's policies and the congressional Republicans who enable them."

Buttigieg spoke to CBS News from Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's watch party. The crucial race remains a toss-up. He remained optimistic, saying that "different states are different" and doubting Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens' endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers had a major impact. 

Buttigieg ran for president in 2020, and is widely viewed as a potential future Democratic contender.

Democrats will gain control of the House, CBS News projects.

Democratic control of the House will mean subpoena and investigative power for Democrats, which will characterize President Trump's final two years in office.

Read more here.

Polls have closed in Nevada, Utah and Montana. 

The Senate race in Montana and the governor's race in Nevada are competitive.

Democrat Annie Andrews defeated GOP Sen. Darline Graham in the South Carolina Senate race, CBS News projects, in a major upset.

Read more here.

The White House has ordered food from the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, according to a post from principal deputy communications director Kaelan Dorr. 

"WH eating good on a big day," Dorr posted. 

The move is a reference to former President Barack Obama's comments on the campaign trail that the president's White House renovations look "like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."

CBS News now rates the South Carolina Senate contest as likely Democratic.

Incumbent GOP Sen. Darline Graham — who was appointed to fill her brother Lindsey Graham's seat — is running against Democrat Annie Andrews.

Both the Senate and governor's races in Kansas lean Democratic, CBS News estimates. 

Adam Hamilton is leading Republican incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall. A Democrat hasn't won a Kansas Senate seat in nearly a century.

And in the gubernatorial race, Democrat Cindy Holscher is leading Republican Ty Masterson. The state currently has a Democratic governor.

A White House official told CBS News the mood in the White House is "defiant." 

"President Trump was not on the ballot, and it's proven that Trump voters show up when he is on the ballot," the official said.

"Also, candidate quality matters, and President Trump did a better job promoting many of the candidates on the ballot than the candidates did themselves," the White House official continued.

"And a final note here: regardless of how today plays out, President Trump's resolve to stop the Radical Left is only going to become stronger. Buckle up," the official said. 

In pre-midterm rallies, the president frequently encouraged voters to "pretend" that he was on the ballot, even saying at times that he was on the ballot, in a sense.

Both the Senate race and the governor's race in Texas lean Democratic, CBS News estimates.

A Democrat has not won statewide in the Lone Star State in more than three decades. Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is running against Republican Ken Paxton, while GOP Gov. Ken Paxton is trying to fend off a challenge from Democrat Gina Hinojosa.

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who won reelection, took to the stage to thank the voters and volunteers. 

"Georgia, you did it!" he said. 

Ossoff also congratulated fellow Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won the governor's race. 

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has won Georgia's race for governor, defeating Republican Rick Jackson, CBS News has projected.

Bottoms is the first Democrat to win a Georgia governor's race since 1998.

She will be the first woman to serve as governor in Georgia, the first Black governor of Georgia and the first Black woman to serve as governor of any state. 

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds has defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida's gubernatorial election and is set to become the first Black governor in the state's history, CBS News projects.

Donalds' victory marks another major win for Republicans in Florida, extending the party's control of the governor's office after eight years under Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

The victory also carries national significance. Donalds would become the first Black Republican elected governor in U.S. history. Only three Black governors have previously been elected nationwide, all Democrats.

Read more here.

President Trump has no public appearances on his schedule Wednesday, according to a schedule released by the White House. He has several closed-press policy meetings, but there is no post-midterms press conference scheduled as of now.

Two senior Republican Party operatives involved in the party's midterm strategy told CBS News there is growing concern within top Senate GOP circles over the election results.

"It looks biblically bad," one of the operatives told CBS News.

Another top GOP operative directly involved in Senate midterm strategy was similarly blunt.

"Dude," the strategist said. "Bloodbath."

Democrat Jamie Ager flipped control of North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, CBS News projects, marking the first time a Democrat has won the seat since 2010. 

Ager, a fourth-generation farmer, was initially supposed to face GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards, who ended his reelection bid in early August. State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom replaced Edwards on the ballot less than 90 days before the election, putting her at a disadvantage in an already tough political climate for Republicans. 

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race from lean Republican to toss-up after Edwards suspended his campaign. As Election Day neared, election forecasters shifted the race again to lean Democrat. 

Read more here.

The South Carolina Senate race leans Democratic, CBS News estimates. Annie Andrews, the Democratic candidate, is leading Darline Graham, the Republican incumbent and sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.

The last time a Democrat won a Senate race in South Carolina was 1998, and that was a longtime incumbent senator, Fritz Hollings. 

Speaking after his victory in the New Hampshire Senate race, Democratic winner Chris Pappas said New Hampshire owes his opponent, Republican John Sununu, a "big debt of gratitude" for his service to the state. Sununu is a former U.S. senator. 

"A few minutes ago, I just got a very gracious call from John Sununu," Pappas told the crowd in his victory speech. "He wished us and our team well. And I wish the same for him and his family. And I think we all owe John Sununu a big debt of gratitude for his public service for the people of New Hampshire."

Pappas told the crowd it had "been a long campaign against a backdrop of the chaos, corruption and chaos, coming out of Washington." He said voters showed Washington "needs a new generation at the table to fix things."