Democrats have secured control of the Senate and are projected to win the House of Representatives, according to projections by CBS News, the BBC's partner. The results represent a stronger performance for Democrats than many pre-election polls indicated.
Senate Victories
The Democratic gains in the Senate surpassed expectations. Races in North Carolina and South Carolina, where Democrats were not strongly predicted to win, turned blue. Historically Republican-held seats in Kansas, Texas, Iowa, and Ohio have also been won by Democrats. Although final results for two toss-up seats in Alaska and Maine are pending, and Mississippi is on a knife's edge, the overall outcome has given Democrats control.
House Projections
CBS News projected the Democratic takeover of the House shortly after 03:00 GMT on Wednesday. While the party is achieving the necessary gains to control the chamber, their performance falls short of aspirations for a larger victory.
The Democrats have held onto significant seats in Florida, including Florida 14 and Florida 25, despite Republican efforts to redraw district boundaries in their favor. These districts had been reconfigured to favor Republican voters, including those who voted for Donald Trump in 2024. Democrats also secured victory in Florida 22, another district redrawn with a Republican advantage.
Florida Hispanic Voters
In Florida, Hispanic voters emerged as a key demographic. A significant poll indicated that this group favored the Democratic Senate candidate Angie Nixon by 55% to 44% over the Republican candidate Angie Moody. This marks a notable shift from 2024, when an estimated 55% of Hispanic voters supported Donald Trump.
Voter Concerns
Nationwide, the economy was identified as the primary concern for voters, followed by the state of democracy. The poll suggests that more than two-thirds of voters believe that former President Donald Trump's policies negatively impacted economic conditions.