Democrats Hold Georgia and Win North Carolina as Ossoff and Cooper Deliver a Rebuff to Trump’s Agenda
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Senator Jon Ossoff kept his Georgia seat and Governor Roy Cooper won the North Carolina Senate race, handing Democrats a jolt of momentum in midterm contests that could reshape Congress. The results offered a pointed warning to President Donald Trump, whose political operation poured massive sums into the fight but still faced growing voter resistance.
Polls closed in more than half of U.S. states on the evening of Nov. 3, and media projections showed Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff winning re-election in Georgia. The victory preserves the party’s existing seat count in the 100-member Senate and underscores that voters are not automatically embracing the right-wing push now dominating Washington. NBC News and CBS News called the race for Ossoff over Republican challenger Mike Collins.
In North Carolina, outgoing Democratic Governor Roy Cooper defeated former RNC chairman Michael Whatley, taking over the seat held by retiring Republican Thom Tillis. NBC News and ABC News projected Cooper’s win, adding a crucial seat for Democrats in the Senate balance and further exposing the limits of the Republican message.
House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that the country was "on the brink of a dramatic change of direction" and predicted Democrats would retake the House of Representatives.
President Donald Trump, who began his second term in 2025, defended his record in a televised phone-in on Nov. 3, saying the nation had improved under his policies.
"We have to keep America great. We’re great now. We were terrible two years ago," Trump said on Fox & Friends.
A White House official said Republicans were in a better position than four weeks earlier, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described Trump’s final speech as "pathetic." The exchange reflected the widening clash between an emboldened White House and Democrats determined to stop further damage.
Analysts project that Democrats need three House gains and a net four Senate seats to control both chambers. Decision Desk HQ’s final forecast estimated a 241-seat Democratic majority in the House and a 52-48 Democratic majority in the Senate.
The campaign has seen more than $11 billion in political advertising, with significant contributions from Republican supporters, including large donations from Elon Musk to Republican efforts.
Election officials reported no major irregularities, although some right-wing commentators raised unfounded claims of voting-machine problems in a New York House race.