Democrats win both chambers of Congress with 7 Senate flips

The Senate flips: Democrats took at least seven Republican-held seats. In Maine, Troy Jackson defeated Sen. Susan Collins. In Ohio, Sherrod Brown beat Sen. Jon Husted. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton ousted Sen. Roger Marshall. In Iowa, Josh Turek beat Rep. Ashley Hinson. In Texas, state Rep. James Talarico beat Attorney General Ken Paxton. In North Carolina, former Gov. Roy Cooper won. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews beat appointed Sen. Darline Graham, leading 51.1% to 46.7% with about 99% of the expected vote counted, according to NBC News.

Holds and uncalled races: Democrats kept seats in Georgia (Sen. Jon Ossoff), Michigan (Abdul El-Sayed over Republican Mike Rogers) and New Hampshire (Chris Pappas). Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts held Nebraska against independent Dan Osborn. As of early Wednesday, the AP had not called Alaska, where Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola were neck and neck with an estimated 72% of the vote in, or Mississippi, where Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith faced Democrat Scott Colom. CNBC's Election Desk had Democrats on track for at least 54 Senate seats.

The House: Many House races were still being counted. CNBC's Election Desk projected Democrats would win at least 250 of the 435 seats, with 218 needed for a majority, and Republicans at least 160. Those projections could change as more votes are tallied.

What leaders said: Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, "The American people reduced the red brick wall to a pile of bricks," and told supporters, "Relief is on the way," Fox News reported. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans "will not stand idly by as the far-left, socialist wing of the Democratic Party attempts to unwind everything we've done," adding, "We cannot let their fringe positions become the mainstream."

What Trump said: On Truth Social, Trump wrote, "I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" In a Fox News interview he said, "I think the Democrats did a good job" and "I can work with them on many things," but warned, "They'll send over things that are insane and I'll veto them." He pointed to fuel costs rather than the Iran war: "I don't think it's the war, Bret, I think it's the gasoline price." CNBC reported he also said he is "absolutely willing to accept" the results.

How outlets framed it: Fox News called it a "blue wave" and led its follow-up coverage with Trump's veto pledge. CNBC led with Democrats flipping the Senate after winning the House and focused on the money behind the losing side, including Elon Musk's spending in Texas. NBC News highlighted history-making Democratic wins in Southern states, including Georgia and South Carolina.

What's still unknown: The final size of both majorities, the outcomes in Alaska and Mississippi, and dozens of House races. Republicans will also have to decide how to respond inside their own ranks; Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) blamed broken promises on foreign wars and Epstein files transparency, Fox News reported.

Race calls are the Associated Press's, as reported by AP, CNBC, Fox News and NBC News as of early Wednesday, Nov. 4. Only called races are described as won. Alaska and Mississippi Senate races were uncalled at writing, and many House races were still being counted; House seat totals are CNBC Election Desk projections, not final results. Both portraits are file photos.