Only 43 votes difference: the outcome of the election in Mississippi is still completely open
Almost all Senate elections have been counted, but a real election thriller is still to come in the US state of Mississippi later on Thursday. Democratic candidate Scott Colom is 43 votes ahead of Cindy Hyde-Smith, the Republican incumbent. Around 96 percent of the votes have already been counted, and more votes are expected to be added from this morning (local time). None of the television channels or news agencies are currently committing to a likely outcome.
This interim result is extremely surprising: the Democratic candidate was given very little chance in the run-up to the election. If he actually wins, it would be one of the biggest surprises of the entire midterms.
AfD politician Baumann blames Trump for the Republican election debacle
Handelsblatt reporter Dietmar Neuerer reports:
The First Parliamentary Managing Director of the AfD parliamentary group, Bernd Baumann, has blamed US President Donald Trump for the Republicans' debacle in the midterm elections. “As president, he made unnecessary mistakes,” Baumann told Handelsblatt.
The AfD politician specifically mentioned the import tariffs that had driven up inflation. The “continuing smoldering of the Iran conflict including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz” has driven up energy prices even further. To combat inflation, the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates. “All in all, an environment that affected and disappointed many voters personally,” said Baumann.
The AfD MP is already counting on the time after Trump. Since he cannot run again as president, “we hope for a capable Republican successor who will better serve the anti-woken majorities in the USA politically,” said Baumann. Trump was elected because the majority of US voters wanted “an end to woke establishment supremacy.” “That’s what connects us to him.”
Democrats have the majority of the governorship again for the first time
According to projections, for the first time in around 15 years, Democrats will again have the majority of governors in the USA. At least 26 of the country's 50 governorships will be held by Democrats and at least 20 by Republicans. The remaining races had not yet been decided. Before the midterms, 26 states had a Republican governor and 24 states had Democrats.
In 36 of the 50 states, the governorship was on the ballot in the general election. Six Democratic and eight Republican governors were not up for election this time. The Democrats won at least four governorships - with Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, Rob Sand in Iowa, Gina Hinojosa in Texas and Amy Acton in Ohio.
Pistorius congratulates US Democrats on “historic victory”
In the USA, the midterm elections took place at the midpoint of President Donald Trump's current four-year term in office. The focus was on the House of Representatives and the Senate. There were also numerous votes at the state and local levels. Below is a ticker with important developments surrounding the elections:
Republicans are defending Senate seats in Montana and Idaho
The race for seats in the Senate also became close in the Republican strongholds in the western United States. On Wednesday morning, however, it was clear: the Republican candidate was able to prevail against an independent candidate in both Montana and Idaho.
El-Sayed wins Michigan and becomes the first Muslim senator in US history
According to projections, the Democrats defended their seat in the contested state of Michigan in the election for the US Senate. Its left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed won the election and will become the first Muslim senator in the United States, the AP news agency reported based on voter surveys and vote counts.
Trump congratulates Democrats on their election victory
After the clear defeat in the midterms in the USA, President Donald Trump congratulated the Democrats on their victory. "Well, I'll say this: Congratulations to the Democrats. They've done a good job," Trump told Fox News. The Democrats have been working towards this moment for a long time.
However, Trump did not see the defeat in the midterms as a personal defeat. “I wasn’t on the ballot,” he said.
Trump: Fox News channel partly responsible for defeats
US President Donald Trump has blamed Fox News for the Republicans' bitter defeat in the midterms. The station bears responsibility because it constantly focuses on Democrats “and worse,” he said on his Truth Social platform.
The Fox News channel is considered conservative and gives the president significantly more airtime than other major US channels. Before the election, he had reported largely negatively on Democratic candidates in crucial Senate races.
Democrat Haaland becomes the first indigenous woman elected governor
According to projections, Democrat Deb Haaland has become the first indigenous woman in US history to be elected governor. Haaland defeated Republican Gregg Hull in the state of New Mexico, as the AP news agency reported based on voter surveys and vote counts. Her election victory was predicted in polls.
Haaland, born in 1960, was previously, among other things, Interior Minister under US President Joe Biden between 2021 and 2025 - making her the first indigenous woman to hold a ministerial post in the USA.
Democrats also win in Maine, taking seventh Senate seat from Republicans
The Democrats were also able to prevail in Maine. Troy Jackson defeated Susan Collins. The Republican started the race as the favorite and incumbent. Maine is the seventh state that the Democrats will take from the Republicans. Four would have been enough for a majority in the Senate.
Paxton congratulates Democrat Talarico on his victory in Texas
The defeated Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton has congratulated his Democratic rival James Talarico on his victory in the midterm elections in the US state of Texas. Paxton said shortly after the election results were announced that he would pray for Talarico and hope that he would do a good job for Texas and the USA. At the same time, Paxton acknowledged Republican losses in the midterm elections in other parts of the country. “We have had a difficult evening across the country today, but it is not over yet,” he said.
Democrat Crowley becomes Wisconsin's first black governor
Democrat David Crowley has won the gubernatorial election in the US state of Wisconsin, making him the first black governor in the state's 178-year history. He defeated Republican Tom Tiffany, who has close ties to US President Donald Trump.
Democrats gain majority in Senate
The Democrats have won the majority in the Senate. The Democrats' Josh Turek has won the up-for-election Senate seat in Iowa, taking another post from the Republicans. This gives the Democrats the required majority of 51 seats in the Senate. After the House of Representatives, US President Donald Trump also lost the majority in the second chamber.
Democrats win governorships in Texas and Iowa
The governorships in Republican-held US states Iowa and Texas went to Democrats in the midterm elections. Democrat Rob Sand defeated Republican challenger Zach Lahn in Iowa, according to data from the AP news agency. Democrat Gina Hinojosa won against Greg Abbott in Texas.
Democrats capture Senate seat in Kansas for first time since 1932
Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton has won the Senate race in Kansas. He defeated the Republicans' Roger Marshall. Since 1932, the Republican candidate has always won in Kansas. This means the Democrats have secured 50 seats in the Senate. The next state that falls to the Democrats is equivalent to a majority in the Senate.
Trump: Will recognize election results
US President Donald Trump has announced that he will recognize the results of the congressional elections. "We will work with the Democrats, and we look forward to it. We will probably find a solution," he told the New York Times.
Democrats also win Senate seat in Ohio, according to CNN
The race for the Senate seat in Ohio has long been close. With almost 90 percent of the votes counted, Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown is unassailably ahead, according to CNN. Ohio is the fourth state in which Democrats win the Senate seat from Republicans.
CNN: Democrat James Talarico wins Senate seat in Texas
According to US broadcaster CNN, the Democratic candidate James Talarico has captured the Senate seat from the Republicans. He defeated Republican Ken Paxton. Texas is the third state that the Democrats have retaken - they last won here in 1988. This means that only one seat is missing for the Senate to go to the Democrats.
Republican leader of the House of Representatives re-elected
The Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has been re-elected. He clearly prevailed against several challengers in his constituency in Louisiana, according to data from the AP news agency.
Democrats capture Republican congressional seat in New Jersey
Democrat Rebecca Bennett has replaced Republican Congressman Tom Kean in the US state of New Jersey. The former US Navy helicopter pilot defeated the two-term representative in the House of Representatives, according to data from the AP news agency. The constituency had changed parties in the previous two midterm elections and was therefore considered contested this time too.
Kean had not taken part in any votes in the US Congress for four months this year due to treatment for depression. He only made the diagnosis public after his return.
Democrat Andrews surprisingly wins Senate seat in South Carolina
According to projections, the Republicans have lost another Senate seat to the Democrats in the US state of South Carolina. President Donald Trump-backed candidate Darline Graham Nordone lost to Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election, NBC News and CBS News reported based on vote counts and voter surveys. Graham Nordone is the sister of Senator Lindsey Graham, who died this summer.
Before the election, the Republican was still ahead in the polls. It had previously been considered rather unlikely that the Democratic candidate would win the Senate seat here too.
Democrats win majority in US House of Representatives
According to a CNN forecast, the Democrats will win the majority in the House of Representatives in the US congressional elections. The US broadcaster will follow the data provider Decision Desk HQ on Wednesday night. NBC also reports the Democrats' victory in the House chamber.
New York Mayor Mamdani – Democrats’ work begins now
After the midterm elections, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on Democrats to implement their political plans. "Together we have the opportunity to prove that the Democrats can deliver. That they can offer an alternative to the empty promises and ongoing betrayals of the right," Mamdani said at an election party in Manhattan.
While Mamdani gave his speech, the AP news agency announced the election victory of Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in New York. “The work we began here on the streets of New York City continues tonight across the country,” Mamdani said.
Media: Democrat wins House of Representatives seat in New Jersey
According to media reports, Democrat Rebecca Bennett has won a Republican-held House of Representatives seat in the state of New Jersey. The former US Navy helicopter pilot defeated Rep. Tom Kean.
Kean won the 2022 mandate previously held by the Democrats. However, he disappeared from public view for months during the election year before disclosing his depression this summer. The Democrats need to gain four seats nationwide in order to take over the House of Representatives.
