Cooper, Warner and Ossoff projected to win Senate races as Democrats make gains
Democrats have secured an early boost in the 2026 US midterm elections, with media projections showing Roy Cooper winning a crucial Senate seat in North Carolina, while Mark Warner and Jon Ossoff have retained their seats in Virginia and Georgia, respectively.
NBC News and ABC News projected Cooper’s victory over Republican Michael Whatley, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, in North Carolina.
Cooper, the state’s outgoing governor, will replace retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who has emerged as a prominent critic of President Donald Trump.
The victory gives Democrats a crucial pickup in the 100-member Senate as the party seeks to wrest control of Congress from Republicans.
Meanwhile, CNN’s Decision Desk and the Associated Press projected Warner’s victory over Republican candidate Bert Mizusawa in Virginia, securing him a fourth Senate term.
Warner, 71, previously served as Virginia’s governor and was first elected to the Senate in 2008. He is currently the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and was among eight US lawmakers briefed on the decision to launch a war against Iran.
In Georgia, NBC News and CBS News projected Democratic Senator Ossoff’s victory over Republican Mike Collins.
Ossoff, who is seen as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential election, retained his Senate seat. His victory does not represent a pickup for Democrats but is nevertheless a positive development for the party.
The early projections offer a boost to Democrats in an election that could reshape the balance of power in Congress and pose a significant challenge to Trump’s administration.
Congress faces battle for control
All 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are being contested in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Voters in 36 states are also electing governors.
Republicans held narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress before the elections.
The Senate comprises 100 members, with 51 seats required for a simple majority. Before the vote, Republicans held 53 seats, Democrats had 45, while two senators were independents.
The Senate race is expected to be particularly competitive in states where Republicans have traditionally held strong positions, including Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Ohio and Alaska.
Opinion polls have indicated that Democratic candidates are either narrowly ahead or in competitive races against Republican contenders in several of these states.
Election analysis firm Decision Desk HQ has projected that Democrats could win 52 Senate seats, compared with 48 for Republicans.
Democrats eye House majority
The battle for the House of Representatives is also expected to be closely contested.
A party needs 218 seats to secure a majority in the 435-member chamber. Before the elections, Republicans held 218 seats, while Democrats had 212.
Decision Desk HQ has projected a Democratic majority, forecasting 241 seats for the party against 194 for Republicans.
A Democratic takeover of either chamber would significantly affect Trump’s ability to advance his legislative agenda during the second half of his presidency.
The midterm elections are therefore being closely watched as a key test of the president’s political standing and the electorate’s response to his administration.