Nov. 4, 2026, 8:09 AM EST

By Max Butterworth and Roisín Savage

Joy and despair punctuated election watch parties overnight after a blue tsunami swept the country’s midterm elections.

In Detroit, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed celebrated his victory over Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim senator in U.S. history. He was cheered on by a crowd of supporters — some wearing hijabs, others cowboy hats.

There were contrasting scenes of disappointment at a Detroit watch party for Rogers who lost in the hostile race.

Michigan Residents Cast Ballots With Control Of House, Senate At Stake
Supporters at a Mike Rogers watch party in Detroit on Tuesday.Emily Elconin / Bloomberg via Getty

In Austin, Texas, James Talarico supporters greeted the beaming Democrat at a burger joint after he flipped a Senate seat that had been held by Republicans for decades.

Not all Republican gatherings were forlorn. Trump ally Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly to become Florida’s next governor.

Bryan Avila,Erika Donalds,Byron Donalds
Byron Donalds, center, joined by his wife, Erika Donalds, and their sons at an election night event in Hollywood, Fla., late Tuesday.Rebecca Blackwell / AP

In Georgia, Democrat Jon Ossoff cruised to Senate re-election as he defeated Republican Mike Collins.

Democrat Jon Ossoff, seen as a possible candidate in the 2028 presidential elections, on Tuesday retained his US Senate seat in the southern state of Georgia, media projections showed.
Sen. Jon Ossoff celebrates in Atlanta Tuesday. Erik S. Lesser / AFP via Getty

Democrat Roy Cooper bested former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley to win the Senate election in North Carolina, gaining a crucial seat for his party in the race to control the chamber.

Cooper, the southern state's outgoing governor, will take over from Republican Thom Tillis, who is retiring and has emerged as a strong critic of President Donald Trump.
Roy Cooper and his wife, Kristin Cooper, in Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday.A.M Stewart / AFP via Getty

Democrat Jocelyn Benson succeeded Gretchen Whitmer to become the next governor of Michigan, extending the party’s control for four more years.

Source: NBC News · Max Butterworth, Roisín Savage

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World
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🇺🇸 US
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