The biggest winners and losers of the 2026 US midterms

What the report says

Democrats emerged as the biggest winners in the 2026 US midterm elections, taking control of both chambers of Congress in a result that Al Jazeera described as a major setback for President Donald Trump and his allies. The vote produced several notable firsts and upset victories, including wins in states long considered Republican territory. The article said the outcomes strengthen Democrats’ ability to shape the rest of Trump’s term by controlling the legislative agenda and opening the door to oversight of the administration.

Among the headline victories highlighted by Al Jazeera was Annie Andrews’ Senate win in South Carolina, where she defeated Trump-backed candidate Darline Graham and became the state’s first elected female senator and its first Democrat elected to the Senate since 1998. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won a Senate seat and became the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. The report also noted that James Talarico flipped a Senate seat in Texas, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is positioned to return as majority leader.

The story also focused on several losers from the night. Vivek Ramaswamy lost the Ohio governor’s race after a campaign marked by controversy around an attack ad. Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens faced backlash after backing Republican Mike Rogers over El-Sayed. Al Jazeera also said Elon Musk spent heavily on Republican support but saw those efforts fail, while Trump suffered a broader political defeat as Republican candidates lost in key states.