Democrats Snatch Georgia and North Carolina as Ossoff and Cooper Gain Ground in Hard-Fought Midterms
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Senator Jon Ossoff held onto his Georgia seat and Governor Roy Cooper won the North Carolina Senate race, giving Democrats some momentum in closely watched contests that could influence control of Congress. The results came despite heavy spending and a fierce campaign in which Republicans argued for their record and Democrats pushed to expand their power.
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 maintains the party’s existing seat count in the 100-member Senate, even as Republicans and their supporters poured enormous resources into the race. 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 giving the party another boost in a tightly contested environment.
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 remarks highlighted the rough political climate and the sharp partisan divide shaping the final stretch.
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.