Democrats are projected to take control of both chambers of the US Congress after the November 3 midterm elections, according to projections by CBS News and ABC News, with vote counting still under way in a number of close contests.
CBS News projected late on election night, US Eastern time, that Democrats had won a majority in the House of Representatives. Both CBS News and ABC News later projected that the party would also control the Senate. The final size of each majority has not yet been determined.
What has been projected so far
Before the vote, Republicans held 53 Senate seats, while Democrats held 45 and two independents sat with them. In the House, Republicans had 218 seats and one independent aligned with them, Democrats had 214 and two seats were vacant.
CBS News listed Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Kansas and Iowa among the Senate seats projected to switch from Republican to Democratic control, while Democrats held Georgia and New Hampshire. ABC News reported that Democrat Troy Jackson was projected to defeat Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine. Republicans held other seats, including Montana, where ABC News projected Kurt Alme as the winner.
In the House, CBS News reported several dozen races were still uncalled on Wednesday, November 4. Democrats were projected to gain seats in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Iowa, among other states.
Quick facts
- Election day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- House: Democrats projected to win a majority (CBS News, ABC News)
- Senate: Democrats projected to win a majority (CBS News, ABC News)
- Still to come: final seat totals as remaining ballots are counted
- New Congress: sworn in on January 3, 2027, as set by the US Constitution
What party leaders have said
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party expected to finish with “at least 255 seats”, according to CBS News, and has announced that he will run for Speaker. The vote for Speaker is expected in early January when the new Congress meets.
CBS News also reported that the current Speaker, Republican Mike Johnson, will not seek the post of minority leader. Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina, who chairs the House Republicans’ campaign committee, conceded his own race, according to the same report.
In governor contests, ABC News projected Democrat Jocelyn Benson as the winner in Michigan.
Why it matters beyond the US
Congress writes federal legislation and passes the budget. The Senate also confirms the president’s nominees for cabinet posts, ambassadorships and federal judgeships, and must approve international treaties. Control of both chambers therefore shapes which bills and appointments reach President Donald Trump, whose term runs until January 2029.
The US is one of the UAE’s major partners in trade, investment and technology, so decisions in Washington on tariffs, export rules and foreign policy are closely relevant to Gulf businesses.
Midterm elections also covered state ballot measures. Al Gulf News earlier explained one of the most discussed, California’s Proposition 40 on taxing billionaires.
Official results are certified by individual states over the coming weeks, and figures may change as counting continues. Projections by news organisations are based on vote counts and data analysis and are not official results.
Sources: CBS News (House), CBS News (Senate), ABC News, ABC Australia
