As polls closed across the United States during Tuesday's high-stakes 2026 midterm elections, voters cast ballots in critical House, Senate, and gubernatorial races that will determine the balance of power in Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump's second term.
ABC News projects a major victory for Democrats in South Carolina, where candidate Annie Andrews won the Senate election to flip the seat once held by the late Lindsey Graham. Darline Graham, appointed to the seat following her brother's death, lost her bid for a full term, marking a notable milestone given that South Carolina had not elected a Democratic senator since 1998.
Additionally, ABC News projects that Democrats will secure enough seats to gain control of the House of Representatives. In Maryland, voters approved "Question 3," a ballot initiative that paves the way for the state's Democratic-controlled legislature to redraw its congressional map ahead of the 2028 elections, delivering a win for Democratic Governor Wes Moore.
As the results unfolded, the White House maintained a defiant posture. A White House official noted to reporters that President Trump was not personally on the ballot, arguing that his supporters traditionally turn out specifically when his name is before voters while emphasizing that individual candidate quality played a significant role in the night's outcomes.
