Voters across the country headed to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to decide congressional, state and local races in the 2026 midterm elections. The results shifted control of Congress to the Democrats nationally, while Nebraska voters reelected several Republican incumbents and elected a Democrat to the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
Nationally, a “blue wave” swept the country, as Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress, ending unified Republican control of the federal government. Democrats won at least 54 seats in the Senate and a majority in the 435-member House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press. The party flipped at least seven Republican-held Senate seats and more than two dozen House districts as of Wednesday night.
Among the Senate races, Democrats won seats in Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina. Several of the victories came in states that supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
The 2026 midterm elections also marked several historical milestones in political representation. Among the firsts, Georgia elected Keisha Lance Bottoms as the nation’s first Black woman governor, while New Mexico elected Deb Haaland as the first Native American woman governor. In the Senate, Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the chamber, and New Hampshire’s Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate.
In Nebraska, Republican Senator Pete Ricketts won reelection, defeated independent candidate Dan Osborn. Ricketts received approximately 50.4% of the vote, compared with Osborn’s 43.6%, according to reported results.
Republican Governor Jim Pillen also secured reelection, defeated Democrate Lynne Walz. Pillen received approximately 50.7% of the vote, while Walz received 42.2%.
Nebraska’s congressional delegation will see a change in representation. Democrat Denise Powell won the 2nd Congressional District seat, defeating Republican Brinker Harding. Powell’s victory gives Democrats one of the state’s three U.S. House seats. Republican Mike Flood retained the 1st District, and Republican Adrian Smith won the 3rd District.
Voters also decided on several statewide ballot measures. Initiative 442, which would require school sports participation to be based on biological sex, passed with approximately 68% support. Voters rejected Initiatives 440 and 441, which addressed the authorization and regulation of online sports wagering. A proposed increase to legislative term limits was also rejected.
According to the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office, statewide voter turnout was 59.44%, with 752,061 ballots cast among 1,265,162 registered voters.
While Nebraska’s statewide races largely favored Republican candidates, the national results shifted the balance of power in Washington. The newly elected members of Congress are scheduled to take office Jan. 3, 2027.