Midterm Shifts: Democrats Flip House And Senate In Blue States
Josh Shapiro wins reelection in Pennsylvania, while Democrats secure control of both chambers of Congress after sweeping New Jersey and Delaware races.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
Democratic candidates captured both chambers of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday night, a result that grants the party full control of the legislative branch. The victories were confirmed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, with election officials calling the races late in the evening.
The path to this outcome began with consistent Democratic performance in regional contests. In the Keystone State, Governor Josh Shapiro, 53, defeated Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity to secure a second term. His win in the gubernatorial race mirrored results from congressional districts where Democrats unseated long-serving opponents. Bob Harvey claimed the First District seat from Brian Fitzpatrick, who had held the position since 2017. Brendan Boyle, Chris Rabb, Madeleine Dean, and Mary Scanlon all retained their House seats in their respective districts.
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, who has served in the role since 2013, defeated Justin Murphy and two other candidates to keep his seat. The state saw a broad wave of Democratic House victories, including Donald Norcross in the First District and Herb Conaway in the Third District. Republican Chris Smith, who has represented the Fourth District for over four decades, was the only Republican to win a congressional seat in the state.
In Delaware, Senator Chris Coons and Representative Sarah McBride both won reelection. Kathy Jennings was reelected as Attorney General, and Democratic candidates won across the board in the state senate and house races. These results solidified Democratic majorities in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.
With control of both legislative chambers, Democrats now hold the power to block Cabinet and judicial nominations, including those for the U.S. Supreme Court. They also possess the leverage to negotiate budget deals with the White House. President Trump, who has used his veto twice during his second term, will face a Congress where Democrats can send more bills reflecting their priorities to his desk. Although Democrats control the Senate, they remain far short of the 60 seats required to overcome a filibuster, meaning Republicans can still stall certain legislation. The party now seeks to pass proposals that frame the political debate ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
