How Democrats Flipped House Districts Across the 2026 Midterm Elections
Northeast and Midwest contests
In Missouri's 2nd District, Fred Wellman defeated Ann Wagner, who had won by 12 points in 2024. Courts rejected new maps that Republicans had sought for the St. Louis-area seat, which the Cook Political Report still rated solid-red in September. In Kentucky's 6th District, Zach Dembo won the open seat against Ralph Alvarado; outgoing Representative Andy Barr had carried it by 26 points two years earlier.
Teresa Benitez-Thompson defeated David Flippo in Nevada's 2nd District, becoming the first Democrat to represent Northern Nevada in decades. Mark Amodei had held the seat before retiring, winning by nearly 19 points in 2024. In Pennsylvania's 10th District, Janelle Stelson beat Scott Perry in a rematch centered on Harrisburg.
More Midwest shifts
Rebecca Cooke unseated Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin's 3rd District, a competitive seat covering parts of the state's west and center. In Pennsylvania's 7th District, Bob Brooks defeated Ryan Mackenzie after Mackenzie had flipped the seat in 2024. The district is centered on Allentown.
Michigan's 4th District sent Sean McCann to Congress after he defeated eight-term Republican Bill Huizenga; McCann will be the district's first Democratic representative in nearly a century. Christina Hines won Michigan's 10th District against Mike Bouchard, in a seat left open when John James ran unsuccessfully for governor. In Iowa's 2nd District, Lindsay James defeated Joe Mitchell after Ashley Hinson left to pursue a Senate campaign.
Suburban and Texas victories
Rebecca Bennett defeated Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey's 7th District, which includes New York City suburbs and Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club. Kean had won the seat in 2022 after redistricting made it more favorable to Republicans. He was away from Congress from early March through most of June; after returning, he disclosed a depression diagnosis and a lengthy hospital stay.
In Nebraska's 2nd District, Denise Powell beat Brinker Harding for an Omaha-area seat held by retiring Republican Don Bacon, a frequent Trump critic. Texas Republicans flipped only one redrawn seat from Democratic control: Jace Yarbrough defeated Dan Barrios in the Dallas-area 32nd District. In Texas' 23rd District, Katy Padilla Stout beat Brandon Herrera in a border district once considered safely Republican.
California seats change hands
Mike McGuire defeated James Gallagher in California's 1st District. Gallagher had won the Northern California seat in June after Doug LaMalfa died, but redistricting made his reelection effort more difficult.
Randy Villegas defeated David Valadao in California's 22nd District, which had become bluer through redistricting but was considered a difficult Democratic target. Valadao was the last House Republican who voted to impeach Trump over the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol to leave office. Marni von Wilpert beat Jim Desmond in California's 48th District, a Southern California seat made much bluer and currently held by retiring Republican Darrell Issa.
Key points
- Democrats gained control of the House after flipping more than two dozen Republican-held seats.
- The victories included incumbent defeats and open-seat wins across multiple regions.
- Redistricting shaped contests in Missouri, California and Texas.
- Several districts long viewed as Republican strongholds changed party control.