Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections by flipping more than two dozen Republican-held seats, according to CBS News. The results mark a significant victory for the Democratic Party and a challenging outcome for President Trump and Republicans, who faced voter rejection in districts previously considered safe or newly redrawn in their favor. As of early Wednesday morning, several races, including the Mississippi Senate contest, remain uncalled or toss-ups, with thousands of ballots still being counted.
The election results reflect a rebuke of the Republican strategy to redraw congressional maps mid-decade. Despite efforts in states like Texas to net additional seats, CBS News estimated that Democrats could end up with between 251 and 268 House seats. Historic victories were also recorded for Native American women, with Deb Haaland elected governor in New Mexico and Peggy Flanagan elected senator in Minnesota, both becoming the first Native American women to hold those respective offices.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic leaders and candidates highlighted the broad coalition that drove their wins, particularly in suburban and newly diverse districts. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, set to chair the House Oversight Committee, outlined an investigative agenda focused on the Trump family's business dealings, corporate corruption, and actions by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. "I think folks that need to be concerned first are administration officials that have caused real harm. We're going to investigate the abuses," Garcia said at a news conference. He noted that officials such as Stephen Miller, Corey Lewandowski, and Kristi Noem would be asked to testify.
In Michigan, Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten argued that moderate candidates overperformed, suggesting the results were a rejection of President Trump's agenda. Scholten, who won reelection by nearly 16 points, stated, "We saw Mr. El-Sayed prevail by seven points. Our incoming governor, Jocelyn Benson, prevailed statewide by 11 points... So a real overperformance there by a more moderate and centrist candidate." While Scholten did not endorse progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed, she confirmed she had reached out to congratulate him and look forward to working together.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas described the election results as a severe repudiation of his party's platform. On his podcast, Cruz stated, "2026 was not simply a blue wave. It was a blue tsunami. It was an ass kicking. It was not simply a bad 2006 midterm election. It was a Watergate-level repudiation." Cruz argued that the issue was not voter turnout but rather that Republican voters rejected their own candidates in favor of Democrats. He acknowledged calling Democratic Senator-elect James Talarico to congratulate him on his victory.
Cruz attributed the loss to economic disparities, noting that Republicans need to address the country's "K-shaped economy" as a "yawning divide." Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, 93, remained committed to his term despite the party's losses. A spokesperson for Grassley stated, "Senator Grassley is not resigning. He remains committed to delivering for the people of Iowa, who overwhelmingly elected him to a six-year term in 2022." The GOP's sole redistricting success in Texas was in the 32nd District, where Republican Jace Yarbrough flipped an open seat.
What the Numbers Show
CBS News projected that Democrats would flip more than two dozen House seats, with a final count estimated between 251 and 268 seats. In California, Democrat Marni von Wilpert defeated Republican Jim Desmond in the 48th District, marking the fifth California House seat to flip from Republican to Democratic control. In Nevada, Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson flipped the 2nd District, defeating Republican David Flippo in a seat held by retiring GOP Rep. Mark Amodei, who had won reelection by a nearly 19-point margin in 2024.
In Texas, Republicans had aimed to flip as many as five districts through mid-decade redistricting but secured only one victory in the 32nd District. Conversely, Democrats retained Texas' 9th District, with Leticia Gutierrez winning a seat forecasters expected to flip Republican. The Mississippi Senate race remains a toss-up, with Democrat Scott Colom leading Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by just over 1,000 votes as several thousand absentee and affidavit ballots await counting. State officials indicated that absentee ballots arriving within five business days would be included.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 midterms have resulted in a divided federal government, with Democrats controlling the House and Republicans retaining the Senate, though the Mississippi race could shift the balance if Colom holds his lead. The results indicate that voter sentiment strongly favored Democrats in suburban and diverse districts, overriding the structural advantages Republicans sought through mid-decade redistricting. With key investigations into the Trump administration slated to begin under the new House Oversight Committee leadership, and a potential Senate shift pending in Mississippi, the political landscape remains dynamic. CBS News notes that final seat counts and control of the Senate are subject to change as remaining ballots are certified.