Democrats gain North Carolina Senate seat as US midterm results emerge

NEW YORK | 04-11-2026 : Democrats gained a Republican-held US Senate seat in North Carolina and secured several important Senate holds as early midterm election results emerged, according to the Guardian and Al Jazeera. The reported victories came as Americans voted in elections that the Guardian described as determining control of Congress and the course of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper won his state’s open Senate seat, defeating Republican Michael Whatley, Al Jazeera reported. The Guardian identified the result as the Democrats’ first Senate pickup of the night and said North Carolina voters had elected a Democrat to the chamber for the first time in 10 years.

The supplied reports did not establish which party would control either chamber of Congress. The Guardian’s live coverage was still recording poll closures and individual race calls, including the closing of polls in Arizona, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Democrats defend Senate seats

In Georgia, Democratic senator Jon Ossoff won re-election against Republican challenger Mike Collins, according to the Guardian. His victory accompanied Democratic wins in New Hampshire and Virginia, giving the party a series of early successes alongside its gain in North Carolina.

Chris Pappas, a four-term Democratic congressman, won New Hampshire’s open Senate seat against former senator John Sununu, the Guardian reported. The outlet described the contest as closely fought and said the result prevented Republicans from taking the seat.

Democratic senator Mark Warner also secured re-election in Virginia, defeating Republican Bert Mizusawa, according to the Guardian. In Florida, however, Republican Ashley Moody won the Senate special election against progressive challenger Angie Nixon, the outlet reported.

Together, those calls provided an early picture of several Senate contests, rather than a final national outcome. The supplied coverage contained no complete chamber totals or vote margins for these races.

Florida House results add to early picture

The Guardian also reported Democratic victories in several Florida House contests, including districts redrawn to favour Republicans. Kathy Castor, who had served 10 terms, won re-election in the state’s 14th congressional district after its boundaries were changed this year to improve Republican prospects.

Jared Moskowitz won re-election in Florida’s redrawn 25th congressional district, defeating Republican Scott Singer, according to the same outlet. Debbie Wasserman Schultz secured a 12th term in the state’s 20th district with a victory over Republican Brent Andersen.

Those House results formed part of the broader contest for congressional control. The Guardian’s coverage also highlighted exit polling that identified the economy and the state of democracy as leading issues for voters.

Election scrutiny accompanies the count

Separately, Al Jazeera reported that the US Department of Justice had expanded its investigation into Alaska’s Senate election. Its brief account said the Trump administration was pursuing allegations that Democrats had put forward a candidate intended to split Republican support. The supplied material did not substantiate those allegations or provide findings from the investigation.

The Guardian also reported that community organisers in Minnesota had trained teams to visit polling places amid concerns about federal intervention. According to the outlet, the Justice Department said neither the FBI nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement would serve as poll monitors, although other federal agents would. These developments accompanied an election count whose overall congressional outcome was not yet established in the supplied reports.

Sources: The Guardian; Al Jazeera.