Democrats capture Senate control as voters punish Trump and the economy
ABC News polls show demographic shifts in Georgia, Ohio, and Texas drove Democratic wins in traditionally red states.
By Sakura Novak ·
Voters in key swing states shifted their support away from Republican candidates this Tuesday, handing Democrats control of the U.S. Senate. The party also gained seats in the House, according to ABC News projections. The results reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the national economy and President Donald Trump's performance.
In Georgia, Jon Ossoff won reelection with roughly 60% of the vote. His margin among white voters expanded by 10 percentage points compared to Raphael Warnock's 2022 win. Younger voters under 30 backed the Democrat by 69 points, up from 21 points in 2022. Independents, who comprise 30% of the electorate, favored Ossoff over Republican Tim Collins by a wide margin.
Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina. White voters supported Graham by only 14 points, a sharp drop from the 54-point margin for Tim Scott in 2022. College graduates backed Andrews by 17 points, reversing the trend from previous cycles. Suburban voters favored the Democrat by 8 points, while urban voters supported her by 27 points.
Josh Turek won the Iowa Senate race, becoming the first Democrat to hold the seat since Tom Harkin left office in 2008. Turek led among self-identified independents by 20 points. Male voters preferred Republican Ashley Hinson by 10 points, while women backed Turek by a similar margin. Voters under 30 supported Turek by a 2-to-1 ratio.
Sherrod Brown reclaimed the Ohio Senate seat from John Husted. Brown won female voters by 15 points and those under 30 by more than 40 points. White voters split nearly evenly, a result not seen since the 2018 midterms. Brown captured 82% of Black voters and 20% more of college-educated voters than in previous cycles.
Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas since 1932, defeating incumbent Roger Marshall. Four in 10 Kansas voters expressed anger about the country's direction and backed Hamilton by an 80-point margin. Among Republicans, 12% voted for Hamilton, while nearly all Democrats supported him. Independent voters favored the Democrat by a 2-to-1 margin.
James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in Texas. He won 79% of voters aged 18 to 29, a significant increase from the 2024 midterm cycle. Female voters supported Talarico by 58%, while men were evenly split. Nine in 10 Black voters and two-thirds of Hispanic Texans voted for Talarico. The race highlights a sustained shift among younger and minority demographics in the state.
