CBS News reported the 2026 midterm elections have dramatically shifted Congress’s makeup, with Democrats winning the Senate and dozens of House seats, though winners remain unprojected in key races.
The rout is one of the largest in recent decades, but the exact margins are still unclear. Two Senate races and over two dozen House races are too close to call, including GOP-held districts with razor-thin margins and several races in California and the West that need ballot counting.
Senate Standoffs in Alaska and Mississippi
Democrats secured at least 54 Senate seats to the Republicans' 44, but two races are still undecided. In Alaska, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola in a race rocked by a last-minute ballot scandal. The count could drag for weeks due to outstanding ballots and Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, with final results not expected until 15 days after Election Day.
Meanwhile, in Mississippi, GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith’s race against Democrat Scott Colom became a surprise toss-up. Thousands of mail ballots and an unknown number of “affidavit” ballots are still being counted, with both candidates claiming momentum.
Democrats Win Senate Control While House Races Remain Uncalled
- Democrats won control of the Senate but await final results in two key races.
- Over two dozen House races remain uncalled, including several in competitive districts.
- Ballot counting and ranked-choice systems are delaying results in Alaska and Maine.
House Races in Limbo
The House composition is changing, with Democrats flipping dozens of red districts while several Republican candidates fight to hold seats. In Maine’s 2nd District, a ranked-choice tabulation begins Nov. 9 after former GOP Gov. Paul LePage fell just short of 50% against Democrat Matt Dunlap, who conceded.
Florida’s 9th District sees Democratic Rep. Darren Soto defending against Republican Dan Green in one of the state’s redrawn districts. Louisiana’s 6th District is heading to a runoff between Democrat Chauna Banks and Republican Blake Miguez after no candidate won a majority in the state’s “jungle” primary.
Several GOP-held battlegrounds remain uncalled. In Colorado, firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert faces Democrat Eileen Laubacher. Florida’s 7th and 27th districts pit Republicans Ryan Elijah and Maria Elvira Salazar against Democrats Bale Dalton and Eliott Rodriguez, respectively.
Western States Delay Final Results Through Runoffs and Ranked-Choice Voting
Results are pending in several Western states. California’s 4th, 7th, and 23rd districts feature races between candidates from the same party, while Washington’s 4th and 5th districts see Republicans Amanda McKinney and Michael Baumgartner facing Democrats John Duresky and Carmela Conroy. Louisiana’s 5th District is set for a December runoff between Democrat Patricia Moore and Republican Gabe Firment.
Alaska’s At-Large District also remains unresolved, with Republican Rep. Nick Begich facing independent Bill Hill, endorsed by Democrats, in another ranked-choice election.
| State | District | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Senate | Razor-thin race, ranked-choice counting |
| Mississippi | Senate | Toss-up, mail ballots outstanding |
| Maine | 2nd | Ranked-choice tabulation Nov. 9 |
| Louisiana | 6th | Runoff between Banks and Miguez |
What This Means for Hollywood
With Democrats in control of the Senate, expect renewed scrutiny of media consolidation.
The uncertainty in races like Florida’s 27th, where GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar warned against alienating Latino voters, could signal shifting cultural narratives.
The Wait Continues
Final results could take days or weeks in some districts, either due to ballot counting or runoffs. In California, some districts won’t affect Congress’s makeup, but races like the one between Rep. Mike Thompson and businessman Eric Jones in the Napa Valley area highlight local political shifts.
As the nation waits, the 2026 midterms have changed the political order, though the final results are not yet complete.
