Democrats score major upsets and take control of Senate

Updated 34m ago

2 Senate races still haven't been called

Two Senate races remain toss-ups: Alaska and Mississippi.

Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are locked in a tight contest. Vote-counting could take some time in the race, which was shaken up last week by allegations that operatives linked to Peltola helped recruit a candidate with the same first and last name as Sullivan — which Peltola's team denied.

The Mississippi race between GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith and Democrat Scott Colom is also unexpectedly close.

54m ago

Sen. Pete Ricketts wins Nebraska Senate election, fending off challenge from independent Dan Osborn

GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts won reelection in the Nebraska Senate race, CBS News projects, defeating independent Dan Osborn.

Ricketts, 62, is a former Nebraska governor who was appointed to the Senate in 2023. He faced off against Osborn, a former union leader who was making his second Senate bid.

Read more here .

2:31 AM

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, retaining seat for Democrats

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race, CBS News projects, becoming the nation's first Muslim senator and retaining the seat for Democrats after one of the most contentious contests of the midterm elections.

His win came after a last-minute shakeup in the race, with former Democratic primary opponent Haley Stevens endorsing Rogers over the weekend.

Read more here .

2:06 AM

Republican Kurt Alme wins Montana Senate race, CBS News projects

Republicans' projected victory in Montana comes after GOP Sen. Steve Daines opted in a surprise move not to seek reelection, and quickly endorsed Kurt Alme, the former U.S. attorney, ahead of the filing deadline. The maneuver was widely seen as a coordinated effort to limit competition in the GOP primary.

1:46 AM

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed declares victory: "Michigan, we did it!"

Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed took the stage in Michigan to declare victory. CBS News has not projected a winner in the race, which remains tight, though Democrats are assessed as the likely winners.

"Michigan, we did it!" El-Sayed said.

He said he is "so proud and honored" to be their senator-elect. If he wins against Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed will be the first Muslim-American elected to the U.S. Senate.

"You took a chance on the unlikeliest of candidates, so thank you," he said. "This is all yours."

He thanked voters for inviting him to their churches, synagogues and homes.

"Thank you for your trust and your belief and your kindness," he said. "I'm going to take it all with me and I hope to bring back the kind of leadership that more than earns it."

El-Sayed said his opponents weren't just targeting and attacking him, "they were targeting and attacking you."

"They want an America that is too small for some of us. We know that America is big enough for all of us," he said.

It was a bitter race. El-Sayed's vehement criticism of the Israeli government drew stiff pushback from Republicans and some moderate Democrats in both the primary and general election, and President Trump frequently made incendiary comments about El-Sayed, calling him "Mohammad" and saying he should be forced to go through a metal detector. He pointed to that bitterness during his speech early Wednesday.

"So Mike, enjoy your retirement!" El-Sayed said, telling him to enjoy his yachts.

"You chose hate, and Michigan chose hope," he said. "May we never have to see the likes of you in the state again."

"JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January," he said, before nodding to Vice President JD Vance's Ohio heritage. "So you know what that means: Wolverine one, Buckeye zero!"

"Donald, look, I know you've struggled with my name," he said. "So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me senator."

"To the super PACs and special interests who tried to beat us, we are coming for your system of politics," he said. "To AIPAC, who spent $42 million against us, thank you for giving me the opportunity to beat you twice."

1:37 AM

Sen. Jim Risch wins reelection in Idaho Senate race

Sen. Jim Risch wins reelection in Idaho Senate race, CBS News projects. Risch, a Republican, has represented Idaho in the Senate since 2009.

1:08 AM

"Tonight, we defeated Goliath," Talarico says in Texas

In his victory speech in Texas, Democratic Senator-elect James Talarico compared his victory and his story to the biblical story of David and Goliath.

"In this race, we went up against our own Goliaths — the richest man in the world, the most powerful man in the world, and the entire Washington, D.C. establishment," Talarico said.

"David wasn't as big or as strong as Goliath," he continued. "He didn't have as many weapons. But he had hope. He had faith. And he had a slingshot. You were my slingshot. The people of Texas were my slingshot. And tonight, and tonight, we defeated Goliath."

Earlier in the evening, Paxton congratulated Talarico, saying he would pray for him.

1:06 AM

Thune: "Thankfully, we still have President Trump in the White House"

Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised the work his Senate majority has done over the last few years as control of the chamber is poised to switch hands in the new year, while warning that Democrats may try to unwind their efforts.

"As we head into 2027, Senate Republicans will not stand idly by as the far-left, socialist wing of the Democrat Party attempts to unwind everything we've done," Thune wrote in a post on X. "Thankfully, we still have President Trump in the White House, and we'll work with him to stop the worst impulses of Democrat extremism. We cannot let their fringe positions become the mainstream."

1:01 AM

Sen. Mike Rounds wins reelection in South Dakota Senate race

Sen. Mike Rounds wins reelection in South Dakota Senate race, CBS News projects. Rounds, a Republican, has represented South Dakota in the Senate since 2015.

1:00 AM

Sen. Jeff Merkley wins reelection in Oregon Senate race

Sen. Jeff Merkley wins reelection in Oregon Senate race, CBS News projects. Merkley, a Democrat, has represented Oregon in the Senate since 2009.

12:57 AM

Julia Letlow wins Louisiana Senate race

Julia Letlow wins Louisiana Senate race, CBS News projects. Letlow, who's represented Louisiana in the House since 2021, bested incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy in the Republican primary after receiving President Trump's endorsement.

12:53 AM

Michigan Senate race likely Democrat, CBS News estimates

The closely watched Michigan Senate race is likely Democrat, CBS News estimates, as a series of Democratic victories in other battleground states have already delivered Democrats the necessary seats for a majority.

Facing intense criticism from Republicans, El-Sayed's victory would be notable, especially after he defeated a more moderate opponent in the primary — an opponent who crossed party lines to back GOP candidate Mike Rogers in recent days.

12:52 AM

Democrat Troy Jackson wins Maine Senate race, CBS News projects

Democrat Troy Jackson is projected to defeat GOP Sen. Susan Collins, toppling the powerful fifth-term senator whose seat Democrats have long sought.

Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, faced an uphill battle in a state that Kamala Harris won by almost seven points in 2024, despite her reputation as among the most independent-minded in the Senate.

The projected victory comes after a messy Democratic primary, where the party's initial nominee Graham Platner withdrew after an allegation of sexual assault. Maine Democrats nominated Jackson, 58, as their nominee in July, after he lost a bid for governor earlier in the year. The fifth-generation logger previously served as president of the Maine state Senate and has billed himself as a champion for the working class.

12:44 AM

Schumer: "Against all odds, we Democrats have won the Senate"

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke as Democrats gained enough seats to flip control of the upper chamber, saying, "against all odds, we Democrats have won the Senate."

Schumer said Democrats have five words for Americans: "Relief is on the way."

The New York Democrat said that the candidates have touched his heart. To Republicans, he said they made a choice to follow Trump "over the cliff," calling him "the worst president ever." Schumer said "the American people reduced the red brick wall to a pile of bricks," and now Democrats must deliver.

— Ian McKinney

12:37 AM

Sen. Susan Collins concedes to Democrat Troy Jackson

Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins has conceded to Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.CBS News has not projected a winner in the race.

"It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine in the United States Senate. I'm proud of all I have been able to accomplish for our state and for our country in the past 30 years," she said, confirming that she called to congratulate Jackson and "to assure him that my staff and I will work to ensure a smooth transition."

A senior Jackson adviser also told CBS News that Collins conceded.

12:13 AM

Democrat Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota Senate race, CBS News projects

Democrat Peggy Planagan is projected to defeat Republican Michele Tafoya, defending the seat for Democrats after Sen. Tina Smith opted not to seek reelection.

Flanagan, 47, is the lieutenant governor and a former state representative who ran on progressive policies like Medicare for All, defeating a more moderate candidate in the primary. The projected victory is a win for Democrats who are defending a handful of seats as they eye a number of possible flips elsewhere.

12:09 AM

Sen. Bill Hagerty wins reelection in Tennessee Senate race

Sen. Bill Hagerty wins reelection in Tennessee Senate race, CBS News projects. Hagerty, a Republican, has represented Tennessee in the Senate since 2021.

12:08 AM

Barry Moore wins Alabama Senate race

Barry Moore wins Alabama Senate race, CBS News projects. The projected victory comes after GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville opted not to seek reelection. Moore has represented Alabama in the House since 2021.

11:57 PM

In concession speech, Darline Graham says it's been a "difficult few months"

Speaking at a watch party in Columbia, South Carolina, Republican Sen. Darlene Graham said it's been a "very difficult few months" — a reference to the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"I lost my dear brother Lindsey and one of our South Carolina's greatest leaders in July," she said. "Since then, I've run in a contentious primary and runoff extending into mid-August, and now a general election. I would trade this all 1,000 times over to have my brother back, but God had a different plan."

11:57 PM

Paxton concedes, saying he will be "praying" for Talarico "if he will do good for Texas and this nation"

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gave a short concession speech Tuesday night, saying he would be "praying" for Democrat James Talarico "if he will do good for Texas and this nation."

"I'll always love Texas," Paxton said. "We will still fight for this state. We will fight for our country. We've had a difficult night tonight across the country, but it's not over."

11:47 PM

Democrat Josh Turek wins Iowa Senate race, CBS News projects

Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek is projected to defeat GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson in a major pickup for Democrats. Turek, 47, is a former wheelchair basketball Paralympian who campaigned on his record of working across the aisle, while pledging to work with the president.