REPUBLICAN ANDY BARR WINS MCCONNELL’S SENATE SEAT
Republican Congressman Andy Barr is projected to win Kentucky’s Senate race, succeeding Mitch McConnell, who is leaving the seat after more than four decades.
Barr defeated Democratic challenger Charles Booker, who had hoped to become the first Black senator to represent Kentucky.
President Donald Trump endorsed Barr during the Republican primary, helping shape the contest in the congressman’s favour.
U.S. MIDTERMS DELIVER HISTORIC FIRSTS
Several candidates are projected to make history in the 2026 US midterm elections.
Keisha Lance Bottoms is projected to become the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history, winning in Georgia, while Republican Byron Donalds is projected to become Florida’s first Black governor.
In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas is projected to become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate.
Other historic victories include Melat Kiros becoming Colorado’s first Black female member of Congress, Adam Hamawy becoming New Jersey’s first Muslim member of Congress, and Claire Valdez becoming New York’s first Native American woman elected to Congress.
TRUMP HAS NO PUBLIC EVENTS SCHEDULED
U.S. President Donald Trump has no public events listed for Wednesday, according to the White House schedule. His day includes executive time and closed-door policy meetings, with no post-election press conference currently scheduled.
TEXAS SETS NEW EARLY VOTING RECORD
More than 7.7 million Texans voted early in the 2026 US midterm elections, setting a new record for midterm early voting, according to preliminary state data.
Turnout is also surging elsewhere, with South Carolina recording its highest share of registered voters in a governor’s race since 2002.
In Florida, voter turnout as a proportion of registered voters has also exceeded levels recorded in the 2022 midterm elections.
DEMOCRAT MAKES HISTORY IN GEORGIA GOVERNOR RACE
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is projected to win Georgia’s gubernatorial race, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in US history, according to CNN projections.
The former Atlanta mayor defeated Republican rival Rick Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive who spent heavily on advertising during his first campaign for public office.
Bottoms campaigned on expanding Medicaid coverage, providing homeowner tax relief and increasing education funding.
Her victory reinforces Georgia’s status as a political battleground state and ends Republican control of the governor’s office after two terms under Brian Kemp.
TRUMP ALLY BYRON DONALDS WINS FLORIDA GOVERNOR RACE
Republican Congressman Byron Donalds will become Florida’s next governor, according to CNN projections, making history as the state’s first Black governor.
Donalds defeated former Republican congressman turned Democrat David Jolly, securing victory in a state that remains a Republican stronghold.
A close ally of Donald Trump, Donalds received the president’s early endorsement and campaigned alongside him in the final weeks of the race.
He will succeed Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who was unable to seek another term due to term limits.
DEMOCRATS EYE MAJOR GAINS IN HOUSE RACE
Early election results suggest Democrats could win at least 230 seats in the US House of Representatives, according to two senior Democratic sources.
The party could approach 240 seats if it holds leads in two districts won by Donald Trump by double-digit margins in 2024: Indiana’s 5th District and Florida’s 9th District. Both races remain too close to call.
Republican sources have cautioned that it is too early to predict the scale of Democratic gains.
TEXAS REPUBLICANS ALARMED BY EARLY RESULTS
Texas Republicans are growing increasingly concerned by early results across the state, with the Senate race expected to be tight and Governor Greg Abbott’s re-election bid now potentially at risk.
An Abbott defeat would mark a major political upset and end his hopes of becoming Texas’ longest-serving governor.
Republicans are hoping to recover ground as more votes from rural areas are counted, but early results have raised serious concerns within the party.
US SENATE RACE: DEMOCRATS FLIP KEY SEAT
Democrats have flipped a Republican-held Senate seat in North Carolina, with Roy Cooper projected to win, marking one of the four additional seats they need to gain control of the chamber.
So far, Democrats have won nine seats and Republicans two of the 35 Senate seats contested on Tuesday.
In Florida, Republican Ashley Moody narrowly held off her Democratic challenger.
Democrats still need a net gain of three more Republican-held seats to secure a Senate majority.
