The Midterm Editor's note: This page was last updated November 6, 2026. Race calls are attributed to the Associated Press with the time of the call. Certified results come from state election offices, which are the final authority.
The math
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Senate seats | 100 |
| Seats needed for a majority | 51 |
| Lineup going into the election | Republicans 53, Democrats 47 |
| Seats on the ballot in 2026 | 35 |
| Democratic net gain needed | 4 |
| A 50–50 chamber | Controlled by Republicans; the vice president breaks ties |
Those numbers are based on the lineup at the start of the 2026 cycle and do not change when individual seats are called. Only the wins change the count.
The races we track
We cover six Senate races in detail. Each state page carries the matchup, the issues, and the local rules; this table records the status of the call.
| State | Race page | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Paxton vs. Talarico | Called for James Talarico (D) — AP, night of Nov. 3 |
| Maine | Collins vs. Jackson | Called for Troy Jackson (D) — AP, Nov. 4 |
| Michigan | Rogers vs. El-Sayed | Called for Abdul El-Sayed (D) — AP, Nov. 4 |
| Georgia | Ossoff vs. Collins | Called for Jon Ossoff (D), re-elected — AP, night of Nov. 3 |
| North Carolina | Cooper vs. Whatley | Called for Roy Cooper (D) — AP, night of Nov. 3 |
| Ohio | Husted vs. Brown | Called for Sherrod Brown (D) — AP, night of Nov. 3 |
Status changes only when the Associated Press calls a race. A lead in reported votes is not a status change.
Where the seat count stands
Four Democratic pickups — Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Maine — plus two holds took the chamber from 53–47 Republican to 51–49 Democratic.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Republican-held seats called for Democrats | 4 (Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Maine) |
| Democratic-held seats called for Democrats | 2 (Georgia, Michigan) |
| Lineup on the called seats | Republicans 49, Democrats 51 |
| Seats still uncalled | 0 |
The margin matters as much as the majority. At 50–50 the chamber would still have been controlled by Republicans, because the vice president breaks tie votes; at 51–49 Democrats can lose one senator on a vote and still win it.
The four flips were not evenly distributed. Two of them — Texas and Ohio — came in states that have leaned Republican in recent presidential cycles. Maine ended a Senate tenure that began in 1997.
How a Senate call is made
The Associated Press compares reported totals with the number and kind of ballots outstanding — mail ballots not yet processed, provisional ballots under review, and ballots from military and overseas voters. When those cannot plausibly change the order of finish, it calls the race.
Outlets differ in how quickly they call close races. We name the outlet and the time of every call, and we do not call races ourselves. Our live results page records calls as they are confirmed.
What each outcome does
- Republicans hold the chamber if Democrats net fewer than four seats. The size of the majority still matters for committee ratios and for individual senators who can withhold a vote.
- Democrats take the chamber with a net gain of four or more. At exactly 50–50, control still rests with Republicans.
- A 51–49 chamber is the 2026 outcome. It is narrow enough that a single senator can change a committee ratio or block a nomination, and wide enough that Democrats do not need Republican votes to organize.
The next milestone is certification, not another call. County canvasses and state certification run through November and December; our certification calendar sets out the sequence, and the uncalled races guide explains what a recount would change. Georgia's own rules still apply to state races — the runoff guide explains them.
What slows a Senate count
Mail ballots processed after Election Day, provisional ballots, military and overseas ballots, automatic recounts in very close races, and state laws on when counting can begin. None of these is evidence of a problem. Our uncalled races guide covers what "too early to call" means, and the certification calendar explains what happens after the count.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the 2026 Senate results be known?
All six races we track have been called. Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas were called on the night of November 3; Maine and Michigan followed on November 4. Certification comes weeks after the count ends.
Who won the Senate in 2026?
Democrats won a 51–49 majority. They flipped Texas (Talarico), North Carolina (Cooper), Ohio (Brown), and Maine (Jackson), and held Georgia (Ossoff) and Michigan (El-Sayed).
How many seats do Democrats need to win the Senate?
Four. Republicans held 53 seats and Democrats 47 going into the election, so Democrats needed a net gain of four to reach 51. They won exactly four — Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Maine — and now hold 51.
What happens if the Senate is 50–50?
Republicans keep control, because the vice president breaks tie votes. Democrats would need 51 seats to take the majority outright.
Why is Georgia different?
Georgia requires a runoff if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, so a close three-way result can send the seat to a second election. See our Georgia runoff guide.
Do you call races yourself?
No. We record calls made by the Associated Press, with the time, and explain the count. We do not project winners.
Sources
- Associated Press — Senate race calls and call times. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- 270toWin: 2026 Senate elections — state-by-state results and ratings. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- National Conference of State Legislatures — runoff, recount, and certification rules. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- Texas Secretary of State — example of an official state results source. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — federal election administration guidance. Accessed November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026. Seat totals reflect the lineup at the start of the cycle; race status changes only when a call is sourced.