With Democrats on the verge of retaking control of Congress, attention has shifted to two tightly contested Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi where results remain unofficial. According to PBS NewsHour reporting, Democrats have already achieved a net gain of 40 House seats, far exceeding the three seats needed for a majority, while seven additional seats remain poised for Democratic flips. The final composition of the Senate, however, hinges on ongoing counts in states where margins are razor-thin and remote ballots are still in transit.
The uncertainty in the Senate contrasts with the clarity of the House outcome, where Republican efforts to gain seats through mid-decade redistricting largely failed. In Mississippi, Democratic candidate Scott Colom holds a lead of approximately 1,800 votes, with provisional ballots in Hinds County still being processed. In Alaska, the outcome is dependent on votes from remote areas, some of which must be flown in, a process that could take at least 10 days.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans are grappling with significant losses in the House, particularly in states where they had invested heavily in redistricting to gain seats. Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst emphasized the need for procedural integrity in the close Senate race, stating, "Any time you have an election that's this close and any time we want to make sure that our laws are being followed, we want to make sure that there's nothing untoward done." Hurst did not concede the race, focusing instead on the verification of provisional ballots.
The Republican strategy of mid-decade redistricting in Texas, Florida, and Ohio failed to deliver the projected 16 new seats. While Republicans secured a few flips in Texas District 32 and Tennessee District 9, both districts had been specifically redrawn to favor the GOP. In North Carolina, despite redistricting efforts to consolidate Democratic voters, the state is trending toward a net gain for Democrats, with potentially nine Democratic representatives compared to the current ten Republicans. Some Republican voters in Iowa expressed shock, with one man stating, "I woke up to my daughter saying: 'The liberals are taking over.' I turned it on, and I saw it as, like, surely not."
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic candidates and voters expressed confidence in their momentum, framing the election as a rejection of Republican policies and a mandate for change. In Mississippi, candidate Scott Colom stated, "We're going to show the country that Mississippi matters, right? We have great people that are full of great values, and we have a vision for our country that really people could learn something from." Colom noted he had gained several hundred votes overnight, signaling a potential path to victory.
Voters in traditionally red states like Texas and Iowa attributed the shift to economic concerns and dissatisfaction with the current administration. Kelia Rice, an Iowa voter, said, "With prices going up and the war and things just building on everybody, they finally decided that maybe we'll give it a chance to the Democratic Party." In Texas, college student Sophia Flores described the Democratic Party as one that "votes for the underdog" and "fights for us, rather than big corporations." Tom Holmquist, a Kansas voter, cautioned the incoming Democratic majority to "do the things that for us" after their victory.
What the Numbers Show
Data from PBS NewsHour indicates that Democrats have flipped a net of 40 House seats, surpassing the three-seat threshold required for control. Seven additional seats are currently projected to flip to the Democratic column, which would bring the total net gain to 47 seats. In the Senate, the Mississippi race is decided by a margin of approximately 1,800 votes, with 10 percent of Hinds County's votes still uncounted. The Alaska race remains unresolved due to the logistical challenge of counting ballots from remote areas, a process that could extend beyond 10 days and potentially involve ranked-choice voting.
The impact of Republican-led redistricting efforts appears to have been negative for the party overall. Republicans targeted gains in seven states, aiming for 16 seats. In Texas, Democrats are poised for a net gain; in Florida, there are no Republican gains; and in Ohio, Democrats hold a three-seat advantage. Louisiana is the only state where Republicans clearly picked up seats due to redistricting. In North Carolina, redistricting intended to dilute Black voters in District 1 has not prevented a shift toward Democratic representation in neighboring districts.
The Bottom Line
The final balance of power in the 2026 Congress will be determined by the resolution of the Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi. While Democratic control of the House is effectively assured by the current count, the Senate majority remains in question. If Democrats secure wins in both remaining Senate contests, they would likely hold a commanding majority. Conversely, a split outcome or Republican wins in these holdout states could lead to a narrow or divided Senate. The coming days will focus on the certification of provisional ballots in Mississippi and the arrival of remote votes in Alaska, with both parties scrutinizing the count for legal and procedural compliance.