Kansas elects first Democratic senator in nearly a century amid sweeping U.S. midterm losses for Republicans

UPDATE - follow-up to U.S. midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Democrats win control of U.S. House; Indian-Americans win key races: Kansas has elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate for the first time since 1932, as Adam Hamilton defeated Trump-backed Republican Roger Marshall on Tuesday. This stunning victory in a state Donald Trump won by over 16 percentage points in 2024 gives Democrats a major boost in the fight for Senate control.

More Major Losses

President Donald Trump claimed his party would have won in a landslide if he had been running himself, stating on his Truth Social platform that he was not on the ballot. Meanwhile, Democrats are set to wrest control of the U.S. House of Representatives from Republicans, which will create a major clash for the second half of Trump's term. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told supporters that his expected majority will bring accountability and investigate corruption among officials focused on enriching themselves and their donors.

Texas And Other Flips

In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated incumbent Governor Greg Abbott, while fellow Democrat James Talarico won the U.S. Senate race to flip another seat. Ms. Hinojosa is a 52-year-old attorney and state lawmaker who appealed to voters unhappy with Trump's unpopular war in West Asia and skyrocketing prices for gas and everyday goods. Additional Democratic gains included Roy Cooper winning a Senate seat in North Carolina against Michael Whatley, Annie Andrews defeating Darline Graham, and Rebecca Bennett beating U.S. Representative Tom Kean in New Jersey.

Context

Midterm elections in the United States take place midway through a president's four-year term, often serving as a public judgment on the current administration's policies. Control of Congress allows a party to shape national laws, approve government spending, and launch official investigations into the executive branch.