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Update, 11:35 p.m.:
Democratic candidate Bob Brooks is set to win Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House, according to figures from the Associated Press. Brooks’ victory will unseat Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie. Late Tuesday, with 96% of votes counted, Brooks was winning with about 56% of the vote.
The race originally had a third candidate, Andrew Tupone, who ran as a Green Party candidate in the primary. But he was disqualified from the general election after the Green Party argued he was not actually affiliated with it.
Who is Brooks? He worked as a firefighter for 20 years and serves as the union president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association. His campaign priorities included restoring limits on corporations’ political spending, increasing taxes on the wealthy, raising the minimum wage, and expanding Medicare.
Where else did Democrats pull ahead in Pennsylvania? In Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, Democrat Paige Cognetti had 55% of the vote, grabbing the seat from incumbent Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr., according to numbers from AP. Cognetti is the mayor of Scranton, Pa. Democrat Janelle Stelson defeated another incumbent Republican, Scott Perry, in the 10th Congressional District.
What other pick-ups have Democrats had? In Kentucky, Democrat Zach Dembo defeated Republican Ralph Alvarado in Kentucky’s 6th District by 9 percentage points. Alvarado, a physician and former state senator, was endorsed by President Trump. Dembo, a former Navy lawyer and federal prosecutor, was endorsed by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.
Additionally, in Ohio, Democrat Don Leonard won his race against GOP incumbent Mike Carey.
Democrats had flipped seven House seats as of 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and had won a total of 152. Meanwhile, Republicans had won 95, with 188 races still left to be called.
Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district Jamie Ager
Associated Press / Photo by Matt Kelley
Update, 10 p.m.:
Democrats flip seats in North Carolina, New Jersey
Democrats have picked up two seats in North Carolina and New Jersey.
Democrat Jamie Ager won North Carolina’s 11th Congressional seat with nearly 59% of the vote, defeating Republican Jennifer Balkcom, according to the Associated Press. This position will mark Ager’s first time holding a political office. He is a fourth-generation farmer and the co-owner and CEO of a sustainable meat company and farm, Hickory Nut Gap Farm.
Balkcom currently serves as the North Carolina House Representative for the 117th district. In the U.S. House race, Balkcom replaced Chuck Edwards on the ballot just months ago. Edwards previously held the western North Carolina seat, but withdrew from reelection in August shortly after the House Ethics Committee recommended that the chamber censure him.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Democrat Rebecca Bennett blocked Republican incumbent Thomas H. Kean Jr. from serving a third term.
Early results from the AP show that overall Democrats have 102 seats and Republicans have 58, with 218 races still uncalled.
U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz smiles during an event with Florida Democratic candidate for governor David Jolly and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Hollywood, Fla.
Associated Press / Photo by Marta Lavandier
Update, 8:51 p.m.:
Democrats win in 14th and 25th battleground districts in Florida
Election results are rolling in across the Eastern United States, with Democrats hoping to flip three seats in the House of Representatives to gain control. So far, early results show that Democrats have nabbed 46 seats and Republicans have secured 22, according to the Associated Press.
In Florida, Republican-led redistricting substantially redrew the boundaries of House districts across the state. Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz took the House seat for the 25th Congressional District from Republican nominee and mayor of Boca Raton Scott Singe. Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor secured the seat for the 14th Congressional District from Republican nominee and attorney Mike Beltran. Both races were previously rated as toss-ups.
Then in Florida’s 20th Congressional District, Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz defeated Republican Brent Andersen to secure her 12th term in office. She previously represented another district, but opted to run in the 20th this year due to redistricting. Wasserman Schultz was first sworn into the House in 2005 and was Florida’s first Jewish Congresswoman.
Update, 6:22 p.m. Tuesday:
Democratic socialists expect to multiply their presence in the House after Tuesday. Two Democrats aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America—Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan’s 12 Congressional District and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York’s 14th Congressional District—are both up for reelection. Meanwhile, six other DSA-linked candidates on the ballot in deep blue districts are favored to win their races:
Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District: State Rep. Chris Rabb is running to replace retiring Democrat Rep. Dwight Evans, in this district located in Philadelphia. He’s endorsed by the DSA.
Michigan’s 13th Congressional District: State Rep. Donavan McKinney defeated incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar in the Democrat Party primary for this Detroit metro district. He’s endorsed by the DSA.
Colorado’s 1st Congressional District: Melat Kiros is a 29-year-old attorney and barista running for this Denver district. She defeated incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in June’s Democratic primary.
California’s 34th Congressional District: Academic counselor Angela Gonzales-Torres is running against incumbent Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., for the general election in this Los Angeles district. The DSA has endorsed Gonzales-Torres as Gomez denies wrongdoing in the face of an ethics inquiry regarding allegations of sexual impropriety. Multiple polls heading into Election Day favored Gonzalez-Torres to defeat Gomez.
New York’s 7th Congressional District: Claire Valdez is a New York assemblymember from Queens running to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez. She is endorsed by the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, but not the national DSA organization.
New York’s 13th Congressional District: Community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., in June. She is endorsed by the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, but not the national DSA.
Original story, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday:
Six battleground states forecast to shift U.S. House control
While the party that controls the White House historically loses seats in Congress in midterm elections, two other factors have put otherwise safe districts into play this cycle.
Open seats: Sixty representatives will clean out their desks once the 119th Congress ends in December, with 32 retiring and 28 running for a different office. For example, the Cook Political Report forecasts Democrats will likely flip Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, opened by Rep. Don Bacon’s retirement, while Republicans are favored to pick up Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, currently held by Rep. Jared Golden. Of the 73 races without an incumbent running, CPR has listed fourteen as competitive—toss-ups or only leaning in one direction.
Redistricting: Mid-decade Congressional map drawing will likely help Republicans flip seats in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama. But Democrats also stand to gain up to three seats from a new map in California, and could turn redrawn districts in red states like Utah and Ohio blue.
With eighteen districts rated as toss-ups, races in six states stand out.
Arizona Delegation:
1st Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Former state Rep. Amish Shah is the Democratic nominee, former professional football player Jay Feely is the Republican nominee, and retired business owner Monica Alponte is the Libertarian nominee. GOP Rep. David Schweikert left this seat open to run for governor, but lost his primary to fellow GOP Rep. Andy Biggs.
6th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani is up against Democratic retired United States Marine JoAnna Mendoza, and Jereme Peters, a Libertarian candidate.
Florida Delegation:
14th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor is challenged by Republican nominee and attorney Mike Beltran. One libertarian and two non-party-affiliated candidates are also on the ballot. Republicans hope to flip the seat after redrawing Florida’s congressional map mid-decade.
25th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Democratic Rep. Jared Evan Moskowitz is challenged by Republican nominee and mayor of Boca Raton Scott Singer. One libertarian and one non-party-affiliated candidate are also on the ballot.
Iowa Delegation:
1st Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is challenged by Democratic nominee and former state Rep. Christina Bohannan and Independent candidate Michael Bridgford.
3rd Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. Zach Nunn is challenged by Democratic nominee Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran minister and state Senator.
Michigan Delegation:
7th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Barrett faces two challengers: Democratic nominee and climate activist William Lawrence, and Green Party nominee Shane Dedrick.
Michigan 10th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. John James is running for governor. Democratic nominee and prosecutor Christina Hines, Republican nominee and former U.S. Army Capt. Michael Bouchard, plus three other candidates, are vying for James’ seat.
Ohio Delegation:
9th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur is challenged by Republican nominee and former state Rep. Derek Merrin, and Kathy McKinstry, an independent. Ohio’s new election map aims to give Republicans an edge in this race.
7th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. Max Miller is challenged by Democratic nominee and union ironworker Brian Poindexter, and two independent candidates. Miller is currently under investigation by the U.S. House Ethics Committee for alleged domestic violence and illegal drug use.
Pennsylvania Delegation:
7th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie is challenged by Democratic nominee and former firefighter Bob Brooks, and Green Party candidate Andrew Tupone.
8th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. is challenged by Democratic nominee Paige Cognetti, mayor of Scranton, Penn.
10th Congressional District (CPR toss-up): Incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Perry is challenged by the Democratic nominee and former television news anchor, Janelle Stelson.
Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district Jamie Ager
Associated Press / Photo by Matt Kelley
Democrat Janelle Stelson speaks at a campaign event in her race against Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Sept. 23, 2026, in York Haven, Pa.
Associated Press / Photo by Marc Levy