CNN projects Democrats have retaken House control after sweeping midterm wins
Democrats won key Senate races in the South and retained redrawn Florida districts, while President Trump’s endorsements backfired in several states.
By Priya Marino ·
President Donald Trump’s political machine struggled to hold onto congressional power as Democrats secured a projected majority in the US House. CNN projects that the party has retaken control of the chamber, marking a sharp reversal from the 2024 election results. In rural parts of the Midwest, the large margins Trump previously achieved have narrowed considerably. In congressional districts with high Latino populations, the gains the president made in 2024 have largely disappeared.
The shift extended to the Senate, where Democrats flipped two seats held by Republicans. In North Carolina, former Governor Roy Cooper defeated former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley. The race was expected to be competitive, but Cooper’s victory added to the Democratic tally. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. This result ended a streak of Republican control in the state that began in 1964. The last Democrat to win a Senate race there did so in 1998.
Trump had personally recruited Graham to run for the seat after her brother’s death in July. He urged her to seek a full term after she served temporarily. She faced difficulties during debates and campaign events. Her loss stands out because South Carolina was not initially considered a likely target for Democratic pickup. Other competitive states, including Maine, Ohio, Iowa, Texas, and Alaska, remain undecided, though the South Carolina result suggests Democrats may have momentum.
In Texas, Democrats are competing for statewide offices they have not held in decades. They are in contention for the governor’s race and the Senate seat. In Florida, Democrats held three districts that Republicans had redrew to ensure Republican victories. CNN projects that Representatives Kathy Castor and Jared Moskowitz will win their redrawn districts. Representative Pia Dandiya is also projected to win in the 22nd District.
Latino voter behavior in Florida showed notable change. In the 9th District, Representative Darren Soto holds a narrow lead over his Republican challenger. In the 27th District, based in Miami-Dade County, Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar leads Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez by just over 1,000 votes. Salazar won by 20 percentage points two years ago. The narrow margin indicates a significant shift among Latino voters in the region.
Trump observed the results from the White House East Room. He remained silent on his Truth Social account for three hours before posting a message around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. In the post, he wrote that he was not on the ballot and that he would have won in a landslide if he had been. He had previously encouraged supporters to treat the midterm elections as a referendum on his presidency.
Several potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential race performed well. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro both won reelection. Pritzker stated in his victory speech that he intends to ask voters to continue to hope. In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear’s former aide, Zach Dembo, flipped a House district in central Kentucky. In Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff won decisively, strengthening his profile for future leadership roles.
The White House officials suggested that Trump did his part to help Republican candidates. They argued that individual candidates should bear the responsibility for losses. Trump said he made a strong effort during the final month of campaigning. He acknowledged that historical trends did not favor his party. Millions of votes remain to be counted, and the full impact of Tuesday’s election results is still being determined.
