Politics and views in the United States

Democrats win control of both chambers of Congress, two Senate races remain too close to call, and one House race heads to a runoff.

Transcript

Welcome to the 2026 Talk's Midterm Election Update, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

"We have to make sure that our neighbors in the state are safe, but it's not enough to go back to the way things were before Trump.

We must do better.

Democrats must do better."

Maine State Senate President Troy Jackson unseated five-term Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins.

He's vowing to fight for Medicare for all, stronger unions, and to abolish ICE.

In what's become a clear rebuke of President Donald Trump's first two years back in office, Democrats gained control of Congress.

For now, they hold a 228-139 seat majority in the House and a 54-44 seat majority in the Senate.

The night saw Democrats flip a variety of now-previously-held GOP seats.

Kansas voters elected Democrat Adam Hamilton over incumbent Republican Roger Marshall.

Hamilton is the state's first Democratic Senator to be elected in almost 100 years.

In Texas, Democrat James Tallarico defeated embattled Republican challenger Ken Paxton.

It's been almost 40 years since the Lone Star State had a Democratic senator.

In his victory speech, Tallarico said all the money in the world is no match for the people of Texas. belongs to the people."

At the time of publication, only two Senate races have yet to be called.

The Mississippi race between Democrat Scott Colombe and incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith has deadlocked with both having just slightly under 50% of the vote.

Though Colombe holds a 43-vote edge over Hyde Smith, Colombe says his campaign has been preparing for this moment.

"We will protect the process of this election.

We will protect the integrity of this election.

I want to make sure everybody knows that a plurality wins this election.

There are no runoff.

It's one of several races where independent and third-party candidates garnered a small but important share of the vote.

In Mississippi's Senate race, independent candidate Ty Pinkins has 2% of the vote.

In Ohio's Senate race, Libertarian William B. Redpath and independent socialist candidate Greg Levy have a combined 4% of the vote, though Democrat Sherrod Brown has defeated them and incumbent Republican John Husted.

Alaska's Senate race has also not been called yet.

The race between Democrat Mary Peltola and incumbent Dan S. Sullivan interference to prevent cert and a New York Times investig campaign recruited Dan J. Sullivan Jr.

To confuse has gone back and forth th Peltola is eking out a slight still being counted.

The inc hopeful he will emerge vict never forget the responsi this job to be respectful t them with disdain.

I will fighting for Alaska, delivering for the people of this great state.

With 68 house races left to be called, only the Louisiana 5th District race is headed for a runoff.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.