Control of Congress Decided, But Dozens of Races Remain Uncalled

Democrats won control of the Senate and picked up multiple House seats in the 2026 midterm elections, but exact margins are not yet clear because winners have not been projected in two Senate races and more than two dozen House contests.

Uncalled Senate Races

Democrats are set to enter next year with at least 54 Senate seats, while Republicans hold 44. Two Senate races remain uncalled. In Alaska, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola in a race that could take 15 days to finalize due to outstanding ballots and ranked-choice voting. In Mississippi, Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom are locked in a toss-up as mail and affidavit ballots continue to arrive.

House Contests Awaiting Results

Dozens of House races across the country are still undecided, including contests in Maine, Florida, Louisiana, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, and California. In Maine's 2nd District, Democrat Matt Dunlap conceded, but the race moves to a ranked-choice count because Republican Paul LePage fell short of 50 percent. Louisiana's 6th District may head to a runoff next month under the state's jungle primary system. Several California districts feature same-party matchups that do not affect the overall balance of power in Congress.

Context

Ranked-choice voting systems and mail-in ballot processing rules often extend the timeline for final election results in specific states. Close margins and legal provisions for recounts or runoffs routinely delay projections when contests are exceptionally tight.