Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member Since President Donald Trump returned to office, Democrats have flipped over two dozen seats in special and state legislative elections nationwide, a string of wins that has boosted the party’s outlook ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democrats and Republicans increasingly view control of state governments as critical to advancing their agendas amid congressional gridlock, especially as court rulings have shifted major policy fights to the states, including abortion, voting rights and electoral maps. Democrats have overperformed in special and state elections over the past year. Historically, the president’s party tends to lose seats in midterm election, however, Democrats face a difficult map to take back control of the Senate, needing to hold all of their seats and flip four Republican seats. Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers of Congress and are seeking to maintain that control in the midterms. In 2026, Democrats have flipped five state seats, with the two most recent secured Tuesday night in the Republican stronghold of Florida . Democrat Emily Gregory, a small-business owner and first-time candidate won the election to represe
