Democrats Take Senate Control as Discontent Drives Sweeping Gains
Election data shows Democrats capitalizing on economic frustration and anger at Trump to win seats in Georgia, South Carolina, and Ohio.
By Samir Patterson ·
ABC News projects that Democrats have secured control of the U.S. Senate, a result driven by a wave of voter discontent regarding the economy and President Donald Trump. The party also projected to take control of the House. These gains include victories in states that Republican candidates had previously considered safe territory.
In Georgia, Democrat Jon Ossoff is projected to win reelection, winning the support of roughly 6 in 10 voters. Ossoff improved his standing among white voters by approximately 10 percentage points compared to Raphael Warnock’s 2022 victory. Younger voters were a decisive factor, with support for Democrats among those under 30 widening from 21 points in 2022 to 72 points this year. Two-thirds of independents in the state voted for Ossoff over Republican challenger Mike Collins.
South Carolina Democrats also advanced, with Annie Andrews projected to defeat Republican Darline Graham. Andrews won Black voters by an 85% to 12% margin, a group that comprised 18% of the electorate. White voters shifted toward the Democrat, supporting Graham by only 14 points compared to a 54-point margin for Tim Scott in 2022. College graduates backed Andrews by 18 points, reversing a 23-point margin for Scott in 2022.
Josh Turek is projected to win the Iowa Senate race, becoming the first Democrat to represent the state in the Senate since Tom Harkin in 2008. Turek gained strength among independents, who preferred him by about 20 percentage points. He also attracted support from Trump voters, with about 1 in 10 of those who backed the president in 2024 crossing over to vote for Turek. Women supported Turek by 15 points, while men backed Republican Ashley Hinson by 8 points.
In Ohio, Sherrod Brown is projected to defeat John Husted, reclaiming the seat he lost in 2024. Brown won female voters by 14 percentage points and independents by 25 points. White Ohio voters broke nearly evenly between the candidates, a margin not seen since the 2018 midterms. Brown’s margin among Black voters increased from 71 points in 2024 to 81 points this year.
Adam Hamilton is projected to become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas since 1932, defeating incumbent Roger Marshall. Four in 10 Kansas voters expressed anger about the state of the country, and 80% of those voters supported Hamilton. Women supported Hamilton by a 10-point margin, while men supported Marshall by 2 points. In Texas, James Talarico is projected to defeat Ken Paxton, propelled by strong support among younger voters, with 79% of those ages 18 to 29 backing him.
