Midterm election results: Democrats flip House and Senate; here’s what else the data tells us

Democrats take both chambers

Democrats secured control of the Senate after winning several Republican-held seats, including races in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kansas, Texas and Iowa. They passed the 51-seat mark needed for a majority.

In the House, Democrats also exceeded the 218 seats required to control the chamber. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats were contested in the 2026 midterms. Vote counting was still underway, and DW said it followed the Associated Press for calling races.

The change matters because many federal political decisions require congressional approval. Midterm outcomes can shape US politics for the next few years.

A survey of voter groups

The demographic findings draw on a representative survey of almost 80,000 verified voters by SSRS for the Associated Press and other news organizations. It included interviews with early and mail-in voters, alongside Election Day exit polls.

White men remained a majority-Republican group, with 55% voting Republican. Black women strongly favored Democrats, at 92%, while most Latino men and women also voted Democratic. Compared with the November 2022 midterms, Republicans lost ground across demographic groups. Their support among white men fell from 60% to 55%, and among white women it dropped from 56% to 47%. Republican support among Latinos also declined.

Age, education and location

Democratic support was strongest among younger voters: 75% of those aged 18 to 24 voted Democratic. Among voters aged 65 and older, Republicans led with 51%. Place of residence also tracked with party choice. Democrats received 71% of urban voters and 58% of suburban voters, while almost 60% of rural and small-town voters chose Republicans.

Among voters with a college degree, 62% voted Democratic. Voters without a degree were more evenly divided: 47% backed Democrats and 51% Republicans.

Economy and key concerns

Economic concerns featured prominently as gas prices rose after the start of the Iran war and everyday goods became more expensive. Almost half of Americans said their family was worse off financially than two years earlier.

Voters who said their family was better off favored Republicans, 75% to 24%. Among those who felt worse off, 74% voted Democratic and 24% Republican, despite President Trump saying the country was on an upswing.

Views on the most important national issue also differed by party. Among voters who named immigration as their top concern, 89% voted Republican and 10% Democratic; the article also described immigration enforcement activity and Trump’s promise to increase deportations.