The New Senate's Firsts: Kansas' First Democrat Since 1932, a Texas Democrat Statewide, Collins Out After Five Terms and a First Muslim Senator

The seven Senate seats Democrats flipped on Tuesday came largely in states where Republicans had long been dominant, and several of the winners set records or broke long streaks, according to race results compiled by Ballotpedia and reporting by NPR and the BBC.

Republicans began the year with a 53-47 majority and "little expectation" that it was at risk, NPR reported, but with voters frustrated about the cost of living, the party had to compete in several states Trump won by double digits in 2024.

Kansas

Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. It is the first time Kansas has elected a Democratic senator since 1932, according to Ballotpedia, and the BBC called it a historic defeat for the Republican Party.

Texas

James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for an open seat. Ballotpedia reported that Talarico is the first Democrat to win any statewide election in Texas since 1994 and that the state last elected a Democratic senator in 1988. On the same ballot, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, according to NPR.

Maine

Troy Jackson defeated Sen. Susan Collins. Ballotpedia described Collins as the first senator since 2000 to lose a general election while seeking a sixth term.

North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Iowa

In North Carolina, former Gov. Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley; Ballotpedia said it was the first time a Democrat had won a Senate seat in the state since 2008 and the first open-seat win since 1974.

In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown defeated Sen. Jon Husted in a special election for the two years remaining in the term Vice President JD Vance won in 2022, according to Ballotpedia.

In South Carolina, Annie Andrews defeated Sen. Darline Graham. Ballotpedia said South Carolina last elected a Democratic senator in 1998.

In Iowa, Josh Turek defeated Ashley Hinson for an open seat. Iowa last elected a Democratic senator in 2008, Ballotpedia reported.

Michigan

In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed was projected to defeat Republican Mike Rogers and will be the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate, the BBC reported. Michigan was not one of the seven flips; the seat was already held by a Democrat. El-Sayed opposed unconditional military aid to Israel during the campaign, according to Reuters, and Trump referred to him on Election Day as "this lunatic that's running in Michigan" while announcing that U.S. aid to Israel would end this year, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Georgia and the 2028 conversation

Democrats also held a Senate seat in Georgia despite its swing-state status, NPR reported. The BBC described Sen. Jon Ossoff as a potential leading contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination if he decides to run.

A wave by Ballotpedia's measure

Ballotpedia said the loss of seven seats puts 2026 in the top 20 percent of election years for Senate seat swings against the president's party, the threshold it uses to define a wave election. It is also the first time since 1954 that the party that won the Senate in one even-year election lost it in the next. Four of the seven flips came by defeating sitting Republican senators: Marshall, Collins, Husted and Graham.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, Sen. Ed Markey won a third full term, defeating Republican John Deaton, according to The Associated Press as reported by WBUR. Markey, 80, has said this will be his last term.

Still uncalled

As of Wednesday morning, the Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi had not been called, according to the BBC, which reported from Anchorage that the Alaska count was continuing in a close race. Alaska Republican state Sen. Bert Stedman told the BBC that Trump has been "very positive for the state of Alaska," adding, "I think personally a lot of people take his showmanship too seriously and his comments too literal." Even without those seats, Democrats hold at least 54 seats, including two independents who caucus with them, according to Ballotpedia.

What a Democratic Senate controls

A Democratic majority will control committee chairmanships, the floor schedule and votes on the president's nominees. NPR reported that Trump will face investigations and oversight from both chambers, though Democrats will still need Republicans on must-pass bills, including the 12 annual appropriations bills. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is poised to become majority leader, wrote on X that "Democrats have remade the Senate map," according to NPR.