Photo Courtesy of John Shinkle & the Office of Sen. John Cornyn - Wikimedia Commons
“The ‘blue wave’ has been taking the United States by storm. Importantly, take care of yourself in the midst of the turbid political climate.
This past Tuesday, the 2026 elections came to a close, bringing big changes with them. The results have been called by many a “blue tsunami,” with wins for Democrats across the country, even in the most unlikely of places. Of the 54 wins that Democrats secured, seven seats were previously held by Republicans. This is a review of those seven flips, which all promise to be incredibly impactful and incredibly positive for our country.
Texas: James Talarico overtakes Ken Paxton
Texas’ senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico was one of the most talked about in the country. Just two years ago, the thought that Texas would go blue was like a fantasy. In retrospect, it’s easy to see why Republicans were not able to hold this seat; their main campaign strategy seemed to one-notedly imply that the mild, gentle Talarico was “weird.” Ken Paxton was also not a popular member of Texas politics. The former attorney general had a term marked by very public scandal, from allegations of fraud to evidence of affairs. It makes sense that the smiling, tolerant, seminarian spoke more to Texans.
South Carolina: Annie Andrews overtakes Darline Graham
South Carolina voting in a Democratic senator was almost as big of a surprise as it was in Texas. The late Lindsey Graham had held that seat for the last 20 years, before his death in July. After Graham’s death in July, the president appointed his sister Darline Graham as his interim replacement and endorsed her during her later run for the seat more permanently. However, Dr. Annie Andrews was elected to the seat. Andrews is a pediatrician and a mother, and will be the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate.
North Carolina: Roy Cooper overtakes Michael Whatley
One state north, the Democratic victory is a little less surprising. Even though North Carolina was won safely by Trump in 2024, Michael Whatley lacked charisma, name recognition, and any benefit from being an incumbent. This contrasts heavily to Democratic winner Roy Cooper, who was the governor of North Carolina for almost 10 years. This seat has been Republican-held since 2008, and a figure as widely known and beloved as Roy Cooper was just the thing to end the drought.
Maine: Troy Jackson overtakes Susan Collins
Far up north in Maine, name recognition and longevity might have worked against long time Republican incumbent Susan Collins. One factor working against her was doubtlessly Trump’s unpopularity in Maine. While Collins was one of the Republican senators who broke with Trump and the GOP on votes often, her party affiliation seems to have been too much. That’s not to take credit away from the winner, Troy Jackson. Jackson ran a whirlwind campaign in only about a month after he replaced the original Democratic nominee.
Iowa: Josh Turek overtakes Ashley Hinson
The senate race in Iowa was lower profile than in Texas, for example, but shouldn’t be celebrated any less. Republican Ashley Hinson was seasoned in the House of Representatives, but did not have the incumbency that may have helped her in the senate. Also featured prominently on her campaign website was her endorsement from Trump, which, especially in light of Susan Collins’ defeat, may not have helped. Democratic winner Josh Turek is one of America’s favorite things: a professional athlete turned politician. The paralympian gold medalist ran on healthcare, affordability, and his own underdog story.
Ohio: Sherrod Brown overtakes John Husted
The senate race from Ohio was a comeback story for Sherrod Brown. Brown was the senator in Ohio for almost 20 years when he lost reelection in 2024. The flipping of his seat led Republicans to their holding of Congress for the past two years, and him being able to flip it back shows that his career is not over yet.
Kansas: Adam Hamilton overtakes Roger Marshall
One of the most shocking flips of these midterms has been Kansas electing Adam Hamilton, who will be the state’s first Democratic senator since 1932. Marshall’s campaign was centered on his image as a doctor (with much campaign material referring to himself as “Doc Marshall”), and his proximity to Donald Trump. Contrastingly, and perhaps unexpectedly for a Democrat but perfect for someone running in Kansas, Hamilton ran on his faith. As the founder and pastor of Resurrection United Methodist Church in Kansas, Hamilton defined himself by this.