Democrats claim 256 House seats in midterms, extending losses to Texas

Democratic candidates secured control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, a result that exceeded recent polling projections. At 1 a.m. Eastern Time, Decision Desk HQ projected Democrats would win 256 House seats, far surpassing the 218 needed for a majority. The party also held 54 Senate seats, with contests in Alaska and Mississippi still unresolved early Wednesday.

The Republican losses extended into deep-red Texas, where Democrats took both major statewide offices. State Rep. James Talarico, 37, defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Senate seat. With 90 percent of ballots counted at 2 a.m. Eastern Time, Talarico led by roughly 10 points. In the governor's race, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott. Abbott, who had served three terms, conceded the race and appeared headed for a loss of about seven points.

President Trump attributed the results to individual Republican candidates during a midnight interview on Fox News and in social media posts. His administration faced criticism as his approval rating ran 20 points below his disapproval rating in the Decision Desk HQ polling average. Some Republicans questioned his role in the defeats, pointing to losses by candidates he had actively supported in key Senate contests.

Democratic gains included South Carolina and Kansas. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, marking the party's first Senate victory in the state in almost a century. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won the Senate seat shortly before 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The former public health official will become the country's first Muslim senator, a win that followed Islamophobic attacks from Trump and an endorsement of his opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, by Republican Mike Rogers.

In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for governor. The race drew attention after an advertisement featured Acton's estranged mother attacking her credibility, a move that drew criticism from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and former Gov. John Kasich. Talarico also faced personal attacks during his campaign in Texas, including a mocking nickname from Trump and insinuations about his sexuality from Vice President Vance and other Republicans.

Voters cited dissatisfaction with living costs, the economy, and the war in Iran as key factors in the turnout. The final size of the congressional majorities remained unsettled early Wednesday as counting continued in several prominent races. The results aligned with polling that had forecast substantial Democratic gains across the country.