Visualising the midterms: How Democrats turned the US map blue

Democrats take both chambers

A Democratic wave cost President Donald Trump’s Republicans their majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. With votes still being counted at 09:00 GMT on Thursday, November 5, Democrats had won at least 240 House seats and 54 Senate seats; Republicans had 147 and 44, respectively.

The Election Lab estimated that 122.7 million ballots had been tallied by the time polls closed on Tuesday. That represented 48.76 percent of eligible voters, more than double the total reported earlier in the election period.

Turnout varied by state

Maine had the highest turnout, with 65.78 percent of eligible voters casting ballots. Minnesota followed at 65.16 percent, then Michigan at 63.65 percent. West Virginia recorded the lowest turnout, at 33.33 percent. Oklahoma had 37.08 percent, while Hawaii reached 37.68 percent.

Seven Senate seats flipped

Democrats gained seven seats previously held by Republicans, reaching at least 54 in the incoming Senate. James Talarico won in Texas, Roy Cooper in North Carolina, Annie Andrews in South Carolina, Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Josh Turek in Iowa and Adam Hamilton in Kansas. In Maine, Democrats unseated Susan Collins.

Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since 1932, and South Carolina its first since 2005. In House races, Cait Conley defeated Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th district, while Rebecca Bennett unseated Thomas Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s 7th.

Elaine Luria defeated Jen Kiggans in Virginia’s 2nd district, and Rebecca Cooke beat Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd. In Michigan’s 4th, Sean McCann defeated Bill Huizenga, an eight-term incumbent.