Democrats Secure Senate Majority, Flipping Control of the Upper Chamber
A close path to control
Before the election, Republicans held 53 Senate seats and Democrats held 47. Democrats needed to gain four seats to secure a majority, with more than a third of the chamber’s seats on the ballot.
Campaign pressures shifted races
CBS News projected the party’s wins would give it control of the chamber. The report also named Jon Ossoff as the winner of Georgia’s 2026 Senate election, retaining the seat for Democrats.
Consequences for Washington
Democrats last held a Senate majority in 2022, before Republicans took control in 2024. The latest shift changes control in Washington as Trump enters the final two years of his presidency.
With the majority, Democrats can block presidential nominees and determine which measures receive floor votes. Those powers could significantly limit Trump’s ability to advance legislation.
Key points
- CBS News projected Democrats would win control of the Senate in the 2026 elections.
- Republicans had held 53 seats, compared with 47 for Democrats, before the election.
- Democrats can block Trump’s nominees and control which measures receive floor votes.
- The report named Jon Ossoff and Katie Hobbs as winners in Georgia and Arizona, respectively.