Democrats have been celebrating their sweeping midterm victories, including flipping control of both chambers of Congress - but several critical races were still too close to be called on Thursday.
Votes are still being counted in two surprisingly tight Senate races in historically red states, Alaska and Mississippi, which could decide the true scale of Democrats' majority. Several US House races are also too close to call, including that of Lauren Boebert, a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, who is facing a tight re-election contest in Colorado against Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher.
What the Left Is Saying
In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom focused his message on plans to address economic concerns. If Colom wins, he would be the first black US senator elected in Mississippi since 1875 - and the first Democrat since 1982. Mississippi is a state home to the largest percentage of African Americans in the US, a group that overwhelmingly votes Democratic and showed up in large numbers this election.
In Alaska, Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman and Native American, campaigned for "fish, family and freedom". Peltola has denied any knowledge of a scheme reported by The New York Times where Democrats allegedly recruited an independent candidate named Dan Sullivan to confuse voters and siphon votes from the Republican incumbent.
Progressive momentum was also evident in local races. Nithya Raman, a democratic socialist on the Los Angeles City Council, is leading Mayor Karen Bass by thousands of votes. Raman's win would mark another victory for left-wing Democrats, following progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's Senate win in Michigan and Troy Jackson's Senate victory in Maine. Additionally, California Proposition 40, which would impose a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of billionaires, drew support from progressive advocates who argue it would raise tens of billions of dollars for health care and education.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican incumbents and their allies highlighted their legislative records and endorsements from President Donald Trump. In Mississippi, Cindy Hyde-Smith, the first woman to represent Mississippi in the US Congress, was endorsed by Trump and campaigned with him.
In Alaska, two-term Republican Senator Dan Sullivan focused on his efforts to get Americans tax cuts and "unleash Alaska's energy potential". The race has been marred with controversy because of the appearance of another candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
On the House front, Representative Lauren Boebert, a prominent Trump ally, faced a tight re-election contest in Colorado’s Fourth District against Democrat Eileen Laubacher. As of the latest counts, Boebert trailed by a narrow margin with 7% of votes remaining to be counted. Other Republican incumbents, including Scott DesJarlais in Tennessee and Eli Crane in Arizona, also faced close contests, with losses in these districts would signal a broader rejection of the Make America Great Again movement.
The California billionaire wealth tax also divided Democrats, with Governor Gavin Newsom opposing the measure. Opponents of Proposition 40 argued that the tax could drive wealthy residents out of the state, though the measure had more votes against it than for it as of Wednesday, with only 61% of votes counted.
What the Numbers Show
As of Thursday, the vote counts in key races remained razor-thin. In Mississippi, Scott Colom led Cindy Hyde-Smith by a little over 1,100 votes. In Alaska, Mary Peltola led Dan Sullivan by just over 600 votes, with more ballots still to be counted. In Colorado’s Fourth District, Lauren Boebert trailed Eileen Laubacher with 7% of votes left to tabulate. In Arizona’s Second District, Eli Crane led Jonathan Nez by fewer than 4,000 votes, with still many to be counted.
In California, Proposition 40 saw a margin of one million more votes against the measure than in favor, though the count was incomplete at 61%. The proposition would impose a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of roughly 200 billionaires in the state, potentially raising tens of billions of dollars. In Los Angeles, Nithya Raman held a lead of thousands of votes over Karen Bass. In Kansas, Democrat Cindy Holscher held a small lead over Republican Ty Masterson in the gubernatorial race.
The final composition of the House and Senate hinges on these outstanding races. A loss for Boebert, DesJarlais, and other Republicans in Nevada and Ohio would result in an even larger Democratic majority in the House than currently projected. The Senate outcomes in Alaska and Mississippi will determine the precise numerical advantage Democrats hold in that chamber.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 midterms have delivered a shift in control of Congress, but the extent of the Democratic mandate remains uncertain pending final counts in several pivotal races. The outcomes in Alaska and Mississippi are historically significant, potentially breaking long-standing racial and partisan barriers in the Senate. Meanwhile, the tight contests in Colorado, Arizona, and Tennessee will clarify the degree of voter rejection of specific Republican incumbents aligned with President Trump.
Election officials in these states continue to process provisional and mail-in ballots, with deadlines extending into November. The final tally will set the stage for the legislative agenda of the next Congress, particularly regarding tax policy and healthcare funding, as seen in the contentious debate over California’s Proposition 40. Observers will watch closely to see if the narrow margins in these uncalled races trigger any legal challenges or recounts.