Democrats make early gains as Republicans face setbacks (Img: X)
Washington: Early trends in the 2026 US midterm elections have pointed to gains for Democrats in several closely watched contests, raising the possibility of a shift in the balance of power in Congress.
Results emerging from states such as North Carolina, Georgia and Ohio have indicated a challenging night for Republicans, with Democratic candidates performing strongly in several traditionally Republican-held constituencies.
The early leads have reportedly raised concerns among Republican strategists, some of whom fear that Democrats could outperform expectations and make significant gains in Congress. President Donald Trump has been following the developments from the White House East Room, where he hosted an election-night gathering with Cabinet members, political advisers and other officials.
One of the major developments came from North Carolina, where Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley in the Senate race, according to projections by NBC News and ABC News.
Cooper, who is completing his tenure as governor, will succeed retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who has publicly criticised Trump.
Democrats also retained a key Senate seat in Georgia, where incumbent Jon Ossoff defeated Republican challenger Mike Collins. Ossoff's victory is significant for the party, although it does not increase its existing strength in the Senate.
In Virginia, Democrat Mark Warner also secured re-election to the Senate, according to The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Chris Pappas was projected to win New Hampshire's open Senate seat. If confirmed, he would become the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate.
Democrats also recorded encouraging developments in several House races. Representative Jared Moskowitz was projected to retain Florida's redrawn 25th Congressional District after defeating Republican Scott Singer.
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In Pennsylvania, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro was projected to win another term, defeating Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity.
Ohio, which has not been considered a major battleground in recent election cycles, also emerged as a surprise contest. Early figures showed Democrat Amy Acton leading with 61 per cent of the vote, putting Republican Vivek Ramaswamy under pressure.
In South Carolina, early results showed Democrat Annie Andrews leading Republican Darline Graham with 52.3 per cent of the vote against 46.4 per cent, with 13 per cent counted.
The midterm elections will determine the composition of Congress for the next two years. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are being contested, alongside gubernatorial elections in 36 states.
A Democratic takeover of the House would make it harder for Trump to push his legislative agenda. The party would gain greater power to block legislation and launch congressional investigations into his administration. Losing the Senate could also complicate the confirmation of senior government officials and potential Supreme Court nominees.
House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed confidence in his party's prospects as polling stations began closing.
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“We’re on the brink of a dramatic change of direction. We’re on the brink of Democrats taking back control of the House of Representatives," he predicted.
However, the Senate remains a more difficult contest for Democrats, who face a substantial challenge in overcoming the Republicans' existing 53-47 majority.
The prospect of Republican losses has also renewed questions about whether Trump and his allies would accept an unfavourable electoral outcome.
Trump, who challenged his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, has repeatedly alleged electoral fraud without providing evidence.
Defending his administration's record in a final television appeal to voters, Trump highlighted its immigration policies, military action against Iran and tariffs.
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“We have to keep America great. We’re great now. We were terrible two years ago," Trump told Fox & Friends.
Meanwhile, reports of voting machine malfunctions in a closely contested New York House race triggered allegations of possible fraud on right-wing social media platforms. Local election officials maintained that every ballot would be counted.
With several contests still being decided, the final results will determine whether Democrats can regain control of Congress and how much influence Trump will retain over the legislative agenda during the remaining two years of his term.
