Democrats scored a seismic victory in the midterm elections, flipping both chambers of Congress from Republican control and setting the stage to challenge President Donald Trump's policy priorities from a position of strength.
The Democratic victories spanning a surprising number of House districts Senate seats means the party will be able to launch congressional investigations with subpoena power.
Democrats could eye the financial windfall Trump, his family members and his political allies have enjoyed since he regained the White House. They will likely examine the president's controversial heavy-handed enforcement of immigration, his use of the Department of Justice to target people he considers enemies and favorable business dealings.
As of early Wednesday morning, Democrats were projected to win at least 250 House seats, with Republicans winning a minimum of 160 seats, according to the CNBC Election Desk.
A number of Democratic candidates won in House districts that were redesigned by Republican-controlled state legislatures with the intention of easing the way for GOP candidates to win.
Democrats were on track to hold at least 54 seats in the Senate, with Republicans likely to hold at least 42 seats. The big Democratic winners on Tuesday night include James Talarico in the Texas Senate election. He overcame an unprecedented flurry of $212 million in spending by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to boost the candidacy of Republican nominee Ken Paxton, the state's scandal-plagued attorney general.
16 Min AgoAaron Ford ousts Joe Lombardo in race for Nevada governor
Aaron Ford, Nevada Democratic candidate for Governor (L), and incumbent Republican Governor Joe Lombardo.Getty ImagesDemocrat Aaron Ford is projected to win Nevada's race for governor, beating Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo, who was seeking a second term in office.
Lombardo narrowly beat Democrat Steve Sisolak in 2022.
Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to win the state of Nevada since 2004.
— Chloe Taylor, Justin Papp
54 Min AgoDemocrat Susie Lee wins reelection to U.S. House
Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev, speaks with union workers on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Las Vegas.David Becker | APIncumbent Susie Lee is the projected winner of the race for the House seat in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District.
Lee — a moderate Democrat who serves on the House Appropriations Committee — was running to defend her Las Vegas House seat, which Trump won in 2024.
Challenger Jon Kamerath, a GOP candidate, was a political newcomer whose campaign site says he is a retired nurse and former chess champion.
— Chloe Taylor, Garrett Downs
1 Hour AgoDemocrat Tina Kotek wins reelection for governor in Oregon
Oregon Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek speaks with members of the media at a rally near the Broadway Bridge on November 8, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.Mathieu Lewis-rolland | Getty ImagesDemocratic Gov. Tina Kotek is projected to win reelection in Oregon, after a rematch with Republican state Senator Christine Drazan, who she beat by 3.5 percentage points in 2022.
Kotek, a former state House speaker, is defending her record on housing and education, while Drazan, a former House Republican leader, focused on taxes, affordability and homelessness.
The race tightened into a near dead heat despite Oregon not electing a Republican governor in more than four decades.
— Chloe Taylor, Luke Fountain
1 Hour AgoRepublican Pete Ricketts wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Nebraska
Senator Pete Ricketts, a Republican from Nebraska, speaks during a campaign event in Fremont, Nebraska, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Dylan Widger | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesPete Ricketts is projected to win the Senate race in normally safe red Nebraska, where Trump won by more than 20 percentage points in 2024.
He faced a strong challenge from independent candidate Dan Osborn, a labor union leader and Navy veteran. Osborn ran against Republican Sen. Deb Fischer in 2024 and lost by roughly seven percentage points.
— Chloe Taylor
2 Hours AgoKatie Hobbs wins reelection for governor in Arizona
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks during her "Arizona First" rally at El Rio Center on November 1, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona. Rebecca Noble | Getty ImagesDemocrat Katie Hobbs is projected by The Associated Press to win reelection in the race for Arizona governor.
Her win marks a defeat for Trump-endorsed Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, a former state Senate president and Freedom Caucus chairman who was subpoenaed by the House Jan. 6 committee.
Hobbs, a former secretary of state, narrowly won the governor's race in 2022.
— Chloe Taylor
2 Hours AgoWhat Trump losing power over Congress means for Iran, Ukraine and foreign policy
Projected wins for the Democrats in both the House and the Senate could intensify Trump's focus on foreign policy in his final two years in office, experts told CNBC.
Laurel Rapp, director of Chatham House's U.S. and North America Programme, said Trump would be "somewhat constrained" on matters of oversight and investigation, but on foreign policy "he does still retain a lot of latitude."
J.C. Lintzenich, visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, said that the president is not a "lame duck."
"The president of the United States still has lots of power, lots of authority," he said. "We still have pending action in Iran. We still have an unresolved situation with Russia and Ukraine."
— Sawdah Bhaimiya
2 Hours AgoCalifornia's billionaire tax measure lacks majority support with 83% of precincts partly reporting
Sergey Brin at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. The Epstein file release contain multiple references to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, including email communications.Lionel Hahn | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesPolls have closed in California, where voters considered a measure that would impose a 5% tax on billionaires in the state. With 83% of precincts partially reporting, Proposition 40 had received 43.7% yes votes, according to the California Secretary of State, far short of a majority.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin contributed $102 million to a nonprofit that fought the initiative. Numerous other tech billionaires also put money towards opposing the measure.
In addition, Proposition 42, which would block new personal property taxes and taxes on past activities, had 54.6% of the vote. Even if California voters approve the billionaire tax, Proposition 42 could get in the way because courts might conclude that it conflicts with Proposition 40.
— Jordan Novet
2 Hours AgoVoters say no to data centers
A data center in Texas is pictured. By one projection, Texas is expected to overtake Virginia as the largest global data center market by 2030.Andrew Evers | CNBCResidents of several U.S. towns and cities voted against the development of data centers in their jurisdictions, as part of a broad AI backlash. The outcomes followed a Pew Research survey over the summer showing that Americans have soured on data centers due to the environmental and energy costs.
In Ashville, Ohio, residents rejected a resolution that would have approved terms for EdgeConneX to build two data center buildings on 195 acres. In Illinois' Joliet Township, southwest of Chicago, voters said no to a measure over whether the city council should approve construction of AI data centers.
"These are non-binding measures, but given the size of the Democrats' victory, adding Texas governorship, and a 29 to 1 lead to restrict data centers, politicians that want to remain employed as politicians are going to heed these messages," Jim Bianco of Bianco Research wrote in a post on X.
— Jordan Novet
2 Hours AgoRead CNBC's Election Day coverage
2026 Midterm election results: Democrats flip Senate after winning House
Even Texas turned blue.
5 midterm election takeaways: Tech billionaires suffer as Democrats drub Republicansan hour agoAmericans have said 'NO TO WAR,' Iran speaker says as Democrats take Congress4 hours agoHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks as Democrats projected to win House4 hours agoRead More
