Tennessee state Sen. Brent Taylor (R) is projected to win the state’s redistricted 9th Congressional District seat, according to Decision Desk HQ. Taylor, a Republican, defeated Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson, independent Dennis Jeffrey Clark, and independent Michelle Head. The victory fills the seat vacated by retiring Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), occurring on a night that saw Democrats flip several other congressional districts nationwide.
What the Right Is Saying
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) acknowledged the shift in power while emphasizing the continued influence of the executive branch. "As we head into 2027, Senate Republicans will not stand idly by as the far-left, socialist wing of the Democrat Party attempts to unwind everything we've done," Thune wrote in a post on X. "Thankfully, we still have President Trump in the White House, and we'll work with him to stop the worst impulses of Democrat extremism."
Vice President JD Vance did not issue an immediate statement following the projections of Democratic gains in both chambers. His last public post on X, made at noon Tuesday before polls closed, read: "Today's the day America. Get out there and send a message to the radical left that we don't want their bullshit." President Donald Trump, while noting that Democrats "did a good job," stated he hopes to work with them but emphasized he will veto anything Democrats try to pass in Congress.
What the Left Is Saying
While Taylor won in Tennessee, the Democratic perspective is framed by broader statewide and national gains reported by news outlets. In Texas, Democratic Senator-elect James Talarico celebrated his projected victory over Republican Ken Paxton by comparing his win to the biblical story of David and Goliath. "Tonight, we defeated Goliath," Talarico said in his victory speech. "In this race, we went up against our own Goliaths — the richest man in the world, the most powerful man in the world, and the entire Washington, D.C. establishment."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) stated that "against all odds, we Democrats have won the Senate," following projections that Democrats gained enough seats to flip control of the upper chamber. Schumer said Democrats have five words for Americans: "Relief is on the way." Former President Barack Obama noted that "the American people sent a clear message — they want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them," emphasizing that outstanding candidates stepped forward in every region of the country.
What the Numbers Show
Decision Desk HQ projects Taylor’s victory in Tennessee’s 9th District. Nationally, the AP projects Democratic flips in several key districts, including Pennsylvania’s 1st District, where Bob Harvie unseated Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. In Wisconsin, Democrats flipped two Republican-held seats: Mitchell Berman defeated Rep. Bryan Steil in the 1st District, and Rebecca Cooke unseated Rep. Derrick Van Orden in the 3rd District. In Texas, Democrat Bobby Pulido defeated Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in the 15th District, a seat Trump carried by 18 points in 2024.
In Senate races, CBS News projects Democratic victories in Texas, Maine, and Michigan, while Republicans retained seats in South Dakota and Tennessee. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) won reelection. In the House, these flips contribute to the Democratic majority, with NBC News and CBS News projecting that Democrats have secured the necessary seats to control both chambers of Congress.
The Bottom Line
The election results signal a significant shift in congressional power, with Democrats projected to reclaim the Senate and expand their House majority, while Republicans retain the White House and several key state governorships. In Tennessee, Taylor’s win maintains Republican control of the 9th District, but the broader national trend shows Democrats making inroads in traditionally conservative or swing districts. These results set the stage for divided government in 2027, with President Trump indicating he will use veto powers against legislative priorities advanced by the new Democratic majorities. Vote counts and projections are still finalizing, and outcomes may shift as remaining ballots are processed.