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Democrats win US Senate majority after Texas and Kansas upsets

Published

Ongoing: US mid-terms Hot

The Democratic Party won a majority in the US Senate in the midterm elections, as voters appeared set to rebuke President Donald Trump. AP projected that James Talarico would beat Republican Ken Paxton in Texas.

Democrats also flipped Senate seats in Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio. Paxton was Trump's handpicked Republican candidate in Texas. Jon Ossoff held his Democratic seat in Georgia, and Abdul El-Sayed was fighting to keep the party's hold on a seat in Michigan.

Democrats have flipped eight House seats so far. Analysts began to predict a big Democratic victory in the House. Kansas last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 1932.

Polls pointed to public anger over Trump's handling of the economy after the war in Iran. They said fuel prices rose sharply and the cost of living went up. Columnist Ed Luce wrote that Trump's heavy-handed input backfired in several midterm races.

Key facts

Who
James Talarico (Democratic candidate who AP projected would win the Texas Senate race); Ken Paxton (Republican candidate in the Texas Senate race, described as Trump's handpicked…); Donald Trump (President of the United States); Jon Ossoff (Democratic senator who held his seat in Georgia)
What
Democrats won a Senate majority as voters across the US appeared set to deliver a major electoral rebuke to President Donald Trump. AP projected James Talarico would beat Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton in Texas, and Democrats flipped Senate seats in Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio.
When
4 November 2026
Where
United States, Texas, Kansas
Status
Reported

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