US midterms: Democrats gain control of Senate from Republicans

Skip next section Fact check: Maine interpreters are allowed to help voters, contrary to fraud claims

November 4, 2026

Fact check: Maine interpreters are allowed to help voters, contrary to fraud claims

Claim: "A highly coordinated scheme to steal an election is happening in real time...," a right-wing media outlet said in a X post, viewed more than 600,000 times.

Attached was a CCTV video, showing a man helping people who appear to be Somali-American voters at the polling booth, flipping through papers, marking ballots, and speaking to them as they write.

If the video is authentic, nothing shown in it appears to be illegal. Maine’s election law expressly permits "assistance in reading or marking a ballot" because of a voter's "physical disability, illiteracy, or religious faith."

The Maine Secretary of State’s office told Snopes that the office hasn't received any credible reports of interpreters committing election fraud.

That hasn't stopped users from calling the practice a "blatant violation of state law" or claiming that Somalis were "rigging the election in broad daylight." The Maine Wire — the outlet that shared the video — has been accused in the past of harassing Somali voters at the polls.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2a5

Skip next section Democrats gain control of the US Senate

November 4, 2026

Democrats gain control of the US Senate

Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

Democrats are projected to gain control of the Senate. The development would hand both houses of Congress to Trump's opponents, with Republicans losing in both battleground and traditionally Republican states. 

As the day ended, Democrats managed to flip Senate seats in at least six states, including shock wins in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina.

Many more statewide results are still expected, but for now, the midterm elections have changed the balance of power in Washington, in a major rebuke to Donald Trump.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2Zy

Skip next section Democrats win in Kansas, in major blow to Trump

November 4, 2026

Democrats win in Kansas, in major blow to Trump

Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

Democrat and Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton pulled off a stunning upset in the state of Kansas, defeating Republican Senator Roger Marshall.

The win flips another seat once believed to be safely Republican, after shock Democratic victories in states like South Carolina.

Hamilton's was historic victory, as Kansas Democrats had not won a Senate race in 94 years.

To win, Hamilton ran as a centrist, seeking to appeal to moderate Republicans and independent voters, frustrated with the rising cost of living and unhappy with Trump's handling of the economy and the war with Iran.

The Democrat managed to raise more money than Marshall, as he recieved from Kansas residents and Democratic groups, which poured tens of millions of dollars into the state.

Republicans attempted to rescue Marshall's campaign, with Trump flying to Kansas to hold two rallies in October.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2Zs

Skip next section Democrat James Talarico wins Texas Senate seat

November 4, 2026

Democrat James Talarico wins Texas Senate seat

Democrat James Talarico won the Texas US Senate race, defeating President Donald Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, according to AP data.

The win was monumental for Democrats who had not won a Senate election in Texas in 38 years. Talarico's win also moves Democrats closer to clinching control of the Senate.

Trump carried Texas by 14% in 2024. He endorsed Paxton, the Texas attorney general, despite the fact that he was at ​the ‌center of many controversies, including a 2023 impeachment and a securities fraud case.

Talarico, a four-term state legislator, overcame a flood of heavy outside spending, in what became ‌the ​most expensive Senate race of the cycle. Billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk poured over $200 million in support of Paxton's campaign.

Supporters of the Talarico campaign in Austin, Texas were jubilant, DW correspondent Mischa Komadovsky reported.

The night was a political earthquake in Texas, as Democrat Gina Hinojosa captured the governorship, unseating incumbent Governor Greg Abbott.

The 52-year-old attorney and state lawmaker, courted independents and voters disillusioned by Trump's unpopular war in Iran and skyrocketing prices.

The two victories could signal that Texas, the country's second most populous state could become competitive in national elections.

Texas has long been a safe Republican state in presidential elections, with 40 electoral votes. A shift to Democrats could reshape the electoral map for president in the future.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2ZJ

Skip next section Democrat Amy Acton beats Ramaswamy for Ohio governor

November 4, 2026

Democrat Amy Acton beats Ramaswamy for Ohio governor

Amy Acton became the first Democrat to become Ohio governor after defeating Donald Trump-backed Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.

Acton's win also makes her the first woman to hold the Midwestern state's top post.

Acton, a public health physician and former state health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, beat biotech billionaire Ramaswamy, who had run for the 2024 presidential election. 

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2ZD

Skip next section Trump reacts to Democratic gains, says he was 'not on the ballot'

November 4, 2026

Trump reacts to Democratic gains, says he was 'not on the ballot'

Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

US President Donald Trump spoke for the first time about the ongoing election results, as sweeping Democratic victories continued.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the Republican Party would have won in a "landslide" if he had been running, appearing to distance himself from the results, implying that the election was not related to his performance as president.

"I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump said.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2Z6

Skip next section Democrats stun Republicans with Senate win in South Carolina

November 4, 2026

Democrats stun Republicans with Senate win in South Carolina

Democrat Annie Andrews has narrowly beaten Republican Darline Graham, in one of the biggest upsets of election night so far, according to AP projections.

Graham, who was hand-picked by US President Donald Trump, was seeking to take over from her brother, Lindsey Graham, after he suddenly died this year.

Andrews' victory is particularly notable because Graham had prevailed by nearly 18 percentage points two years ago.

Andrews' win and that of Roy Cooper in neighboring North Carolina mean the Democratic Party has secured two of the four seats it needs to gain a majority in the Senate.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2Vk

Skip next section Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes first Black woman governor

November 4, 2026

Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes first Black woman governor

Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms made history by capturing the governorship in the state of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman elected to the top office in any US state, according to Associated Press election projections.

A former Atlanta mayor, Bottoms defeated billionaire health care executive Republican Rick Jackson. The two were contesting the outgoing Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who was term-limited.

"What we do in this moment will echo through history," Bottoms said ahead of election day.

The win is consequential, as Kemp himself fended off two challenges from Stacey Abrams, a prominent voting rights advocate and Democratic fundraiser. Abrams opted against a third run for governor, paving the way for Bottoms' candidacy.

Bottoms is a descendant of enslaved Georgians, but she did not lean on the historic nature of her candidacy during the campaign, but did recount her family's history.

"I am at least a fifth-generation Georgian," she said. "I say 'at least' because we can only trace our family back five generations — to a plantation in Crawfordville."

Bottoms said that her grandfather moved to Atlanta from rural Georgia and had to "walk through these back doors" of downtown buildings she would later enter through the front as mayor. 

The Georgia governor's office had been held by Republicans for over two decades, and the result represents a major setback for President Donald Trump, who endorsed Jackson in July and campaigned with him in the Atlanta area in the closing weeks of the race.

Bottoms focused her campaign on promises to expand Medicaid health benefits for those of lower income, to lower costs for families and to protect voting rights.

Meanwhile, Jackson presented himself as a political outsider who had grown up in Georgia's foster care system. He spent more than $100 million (€88 million) of his own fortune on the gubernatorial campaign.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2Vc

Skip next section Republicans hold Marco Rubio's Florida Senate seat

November 4, 2026

Republicans hold Marco Rubio's Florida Senate seat

Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's old Senate seat in Florida was also up for grabs in this election, with Republican Ashley Moody having been appointed to the seat after Rubio took his job in Donald Trump's cabinet.

Moody, who has previously served as Florida's attorney general, was the favorite to win the seat in Florida, where Trump is a resident. The state voted for him by double digits in 2024.

Despite a heavy advantage, Moody had to fend off an unusual challenge from Democrat Angie Nixon and in the end prevailed 51% to 48%, with 99% of ballots reporting, according to Associated Press data. 

Trump ally Byron Donalds also succeeded outgoing Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, fighting off a surprisingly strong challenge from Democrat David Jolly. With the win, Donalds became Florida's first African American governor.

Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties and ran a centrist campaign, fell short of a win, with Donalds defeating him by roughly 1.5 percentage points with 99% of ballots reporting.

Ultimately, Republicans held a roughly 1.5 million voter registration advantage over Democrats and both Nixon and Jolly were vastly outspent.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2V9

Skip next section Ossoff: Voters reject Trump's 'depravity, corruption and incompetence'

November 4, 2026

Ossoff: Voters reject Trump's 'depravity, corruption and incompetence'

Jon Ossoff, the 39-year-old Democrat who has won reelection in the southern state of Georgia, has said that his party's "sweeping and decisive" victories in several midterm races on Tuesday show that American voters reject US President Donald Trump.

"The American people have rebuked the depravity, corruption and incompetence of the failed lame duck President Donald J. Trump," Ossoff told supporters after retaining his seat against Republican challenger Mike Collins.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2VN

Skip next section WATCH: What matters most to Texan voters?

November 4, 2026

WATCH: What matters most to Texan voters?

As Texans head to the polls in a closely watched Senate race, what matters most to them?

The economy, political division, and domestic issues have dominated the conversation ahead of the vote, which is pitting Republican Ken Paxton against Democrat James Talarico.

But where do Europe, NATO and Ukraine fit into the picture? I put those questions to voters in Texas. 

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2SP

Skip next section Polls close in Michigan, Texas Senate races

November 4, 2026

Polls close in Michigan, Texas Senate races

Polls have now closed in a swath of central states, including in the closely watched Senate races in Michigan and Texas.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2SK

Skip next section Young voters move away from Republicans

November 4, 2026

Young voters move away from Republicans

Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

According to the AP Voter Poll, young voters were among those demographics that swung away from Republicans in this election.

Young voters only make up about 10% of the electorate, according to the poll.

In 2024, Trump had managed to make inroads with voters under 30, who ended up evenly split between him and Kamala Harris.

But in this election, about 7 in 10 of voters under 30 nationally said they supported the Democratic House candidate in their area.

Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko

https://p.dw.com/p/5P2Rz

Skip next section Democrat Roy Cooper flips North Carolina Senate seat

November 4, 2026

Democrat Roy Cooper flips North Carolina Senate seat

Former governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, has won the Senate seat in the southern state, defeating Republican Michael Whatley.

Cooper succeeds Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who did not seek reelection for a third term after clashing with Donald Trump last year over the president's signature "big beautiful bill."

Cooper's win is a major boost for the Democratic Party in North Carolina, which has voted for Trump in the previous three presidential elections.