CNN projects Democrats win US House majority as Senate races tilt their way

House majority within reach

CNN projected that Democrats had won enough races in the 3 November midterm elections to take control of the House of Representatives, with more than 200 seats still in play at the time. An NBC News analysis expected Democrats to win at least 244 seats. By 4 a.m. Central European Time, Democrats had won 107 seats against the 218 needed for a majority, while Republicans had won 62 of the 435 seats. AP projections also gave Democrats two seats that Republicans had previously held. Control of the chamber would let Democrats set the legislative agenda, lead the main committees and open investigations into the Trump administration.

Senate races tilt toward Democrats

The Senate outcome was not yet settled, but Democrats won or held several seats. Jon Ossoff kept his Georgia seat, Chris Pappas won the race for a New Hampshire seat that had been vacant, and former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper took a Senate seat from Republicans. CBS News projected Democrat Annie Andrews the winner in South Carolina over Republican Darline Graham, in a state that voted for Donald Trump in 2024. The latest tally, from early on 4 November, showed 46 Democratic and independent seats, 36 Republican and 18 unassigned, with 51 needed for control.

Democrats and independents46

Republicans36

Unassigned18

Democrats and independents

46 seats

Republicans

36 seats

Unassigned

18 seats

Data from the article text

CNN estimates moved through the early hours, with a sequence of calls on the night of 3 November. Cooper's North Carolina projection was the first Senate seat that Democrats took from Republicans that night. Vice President JD Vance could break a 50-50 tie in the Senate, so Democrats need 51 seats to control the chamber outright.

What it means for Trump

Losing the House already complicates Trump's legislative agenda. If Democrats also take the Senate, he would face a Congress controlled by the opposition for the last two years of his term. The Senate confirms presidential appointees, including members of the administration and federal judges, which could further limit the White House. Trump would keep his veto, and overriding it would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers.

White House reaction and state races

A White House spokesperson, speaking anonymously to NOS, said the president remains combative even though early results gave little reason for optimism. The spokesperson argued that Trump's candidates had not done enough to win, and that Trump voters turned out even though he was not on the ballot. NOS reported that Trump had urged supporters to act as if he were on the ballot, a tactic analysts questioned because polls show many voters blame him for high fuel prices and the war in Iran. In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms was reported to have beaten Rick Jackson in the governor's race, which would make her the first Black woman to become governor in the United States.

Counting still under way

Vote counting continues and official announcements are still awaited. Polls have closed in Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Utah, and Nevada's result may take longer because mail ballots can arrive several days after election day. In Texas, James Talarico is seeking to win a Senate seat for Democrats for the first time in 36 years. In Indiana's 5th district, where Trump won by 17 points over Kamala Harris in 2024, the Democratic candidate led by 24 points with 36% of votes counted.