On the eve of the vote there were some states indicated as fundamental in determining who would win the 2026 midterm elections, in particular for control of the Senate and in the 36 races for the positions of Governor: from Maine to North and South Carolina, passing through Texas and Ohio up to Alaska, attention was focused on the senatorial seats up for grabs in this round. And which, while the counting of votes is still underway, all appear to have been won by the Democrats.
Texas, a historic Republican stronghold, experienced a real earthquake in these elections: James Talarico won the seat in the Senate, becoming the first dem to achieve the feat since 1988. The 37-year-old state representative beat the powerful and controversial attorney general of Texas, strongly supported by American President Donald Trump, at the expense of the outgoing senator John Cornyn. Additionally, Dem Gina Hinojosa defeated outgoing Republican governor Greg Abbott, becoming the state's first Democratic governor since Ann Richards, who led Texas from 1991 to 1995.
Even more significant is the victory obtained by the Democrats in Kansas: here Adam Hamilton won the race for the Senate, beating Roger Marshall and snatching a seat in the Senate from the Republicans. The last time Kansas chose a Democrat for the Senate was in 1932.
Moving on to Iowa, here Democrat Josh Turek won the race for the Senate seat: this is another significant victory for the party, in a Republican-led state. Turek, won against Republican Ashley Hinson. Furthermore, Democrat Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn in the race for governor of the state: it is the first time since 2006 that Democrats have won this position in the traditionally Republican state.
Democrat Sherrod Brown then won the Senate race in Ohio, beating Republican Jon Husted. Furthermore, Democrat Amy Acton was elected governor of the state: Acton beat Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton was the protagonist of a fierce battle, especially at the end of the competition after the shock advertisement of her rival starring Acton's mother, who invited voters not to vote for her daughter. Acton and her mother have not had contact for decades, after the candidate was dismissed following allegations of molestation by her stepfather.
Democrat Annie Andrews then won the Senate race in South Carolina, beating Darline Graham, sister of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Andrews, a 45-year-old pediatrician, based his election campaign on access to healthcare and its economic sustainability, as well as on the fight against corruption in Washington. Graham, 62, appointed after the death of veteran senator Lindsey, had no qualifications but was able to count on the support of Donald Trump who spent a lot of effort on her behalf in the election campaign. For Andrews it was a triumph, in a state that had not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998 and which in 2024 had seen the president win by 18 points.
And again, Democrat Roy Coorper won the Senate race in North Carolina, snatching another seat from the Republicans. The state also passed an amendment requiring a photo ID to vote in elections. Currently, the State Constitution requires it only for those who vote in person but it will now also be mandatory for early and absentee voting.
Another significant result in this election came from Georgia, where the Democrat Jon Ossoff won and retained his seat: he beat the Republican Mike Collins. Osso is the only incumbent Democratic senator to defend a seat in 2026 in a state won by Donald Trump in 2024, and is widely considered one of the Democrats' leading contenders for the White House in 2028.
As regards the House of Representatives - where the vote does not take place at the state level, but at the district level - here too the Democrats have obtained a large victory which gives them the majority of the Chamber: when the counting of ballots is still underway, the liberals have already secured 224 seats when the majority required is 218.
