Democrats take control of Congress as Talarico wins Texas Senate race

Americans vote on Tuesday in midterm elections that will decide whether Republicans keep control of Congress, with a small group of closely fought Senate contests potentially determining the balance of power.

Democrats need to gain four seats to take control of the Senate, the BBC reported in its election eve preview. That would give them the power to block President Donald Trump’s agenda, reject judicial nominations and investigate his administration.

The [Cook Political Report’s Senate ratings](https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings?os=0) list six contests as toss-ups, the category it uses for races where either party has a good chance of winning. The BBC preview profiled seven races it described as toss-ups, including Iowa, where former local news reporter Ashley Hinson is running against Democrat Josh Turek, a wheelchair basketball player who won Paralympic gold twice.

Other closely watched contests include Alaska, where Republican Dan Sullivan faces former congresswoman Mary Peltola; Texas, where Democrat James Talarico is challenging Republican Ken Paxton; and Ohio, where Republican Jon Husted is defending the seat against former senator Sherrod Brown.

The races are shaped by local issues as well as the national mood. In Iowa, the candidates have clashed over tariffs, farming and the war in Iran. In Texas, Talarico is seeking to end a long Democratic losing streak in statewide elections, while Paxton’s record and the state’s political direction are central to the contest. In Ohio, Brown has focused on workers and the impact of trade policy on manufacturing.

The Senate is not the only prize at stake: the midterms will also determine control of the House of Representatives. The Federal Election Commission lists 3 November 2026 as the date of the regularly scheduled federal general election. Results are certified by state election offices, and the FEC says they are not available immediately.

Update

Democrats have won control of both chambers of the US Congress, ending Republican control of the House and Senate after the 3 November midterm elections and setting up a new challenge to President Donald Trump’s agenda. The Associated Press reported the results as called outcomes; final seat totals and the status of every race were not established in its reports.

The gains included James Talarico’s victory over Republican Ken Paxton in Texas. It is the first time since 1988 that a Democrat has won a Texas Senate seat, according to the BBC. The Associated Press said Democrats flipped at least seven Senate seats, including Texas, and held battleground seats in Georgia and Michigan.

Democrats also took the House, flipping more than two dozen districts, the AP reported. Their victories reached states that have backed Republicans for decades, including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina.