Democrats have achieved their first electoral flip of the 2026 midterm cycle with a victory in the U.S. territory of Guam. The final unofficial results from the Guam Election Commission show Democrat Alicia Limtiaco defeating Republican incumbent James Moylan for the island's non-voting seat in the House of Representatives.
Limtiaco secured 51% of the vote to Moylan's 49%, a shift from 2022 and 2024 when Moylan won the seat with 52%. Guam's location in the western Pacific means its polls close significantly earlier than those on the U.S. mainland.
Moylan issued a statement congratulating Limtiaco, a former Attorney General, on her victory. "The people of Guam have spoken, and I respect their decision," Moylan said. "Elections are a vital part of our democracy, and while we may have different perspectives and ideas about the path forward, we all share a common love for our island and a desire to see our people thrive."
Despite the loss in the delegate race, former President Donald Trump found a reason to celebrate the results from the island. He noted on Truth Social that Republican Tony Ada has been projected to win the governorship of Guam, ending eight years of Democratic control. Ada won with 51.5% of the vote, while his Democratic challenger Therese Terlaje received 48.1%.
"Guam, which has always been considered strongly Democrat, just had an early call for a REPUBLICAN Victory in the top spot, Governor — Congratulations to Tony Ada!" Trump posted. "Also, the Republicans have the Majority in the State Senate."
Trump, who has been actively campaigning for Republican candidates nationwide, views the Guam results as a potential indicator for other races. In the House of Representatives, Democrats need to flip at least three seats, while in the Senate, they aim to gain at least four seats from the Republicans' current 53-seat majority.
Trump's advisors have reportedly acknowledged that the former president cannot be solely blamed if the overall midterm results are unfavorable for the Republican party, despite his extensive campaigning efforts. Trump has urged his supporters to treat the midterms as if he were on the ballot, emphasizing that his legacy is at stake and he does not wish to serve his final two years in office as a "lame duck."