GOP Holds Only Two Senate Seats, Democrats Take 22 Governorships

Senate Republicans reelected South Dakota Senator John Thune as leader of the GOP conference after a tense day of discussions about steep losses in the midterm elections that cost them their majority. Thune was always expected to prevail, as he is popular with his GOP colleagues and was running unopposed in the secret ballot election. However, the party’s net loss of at least seven U.S. Senate seats put this year’s elections in the top 20 percent of election years in terms of seat swings against a president’s party. This threshold is previously defined as a wave election. The U.S. House has not yet reached that mark, but Republicans' net loss of 42 seats is short of the 48 seats needed to qualify as a wave, though uncalled races could still change that total.

Democrats won majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate, picking up at least 43 House seats and seven Senate seats. With results still being reported as of 4 p.m. EST on November 6, Democrats will have at least a 250 to 157 majority in the House and a 54 to 44 majority in the Senate. All seven Senate seats that Democrats gained were previously held by Republicans. This shift in power was accompanied by a significant change in state-level leadership, as Democrats won a majority of governorships for the first time since before the 2010 elections.

The impact on state leadership was profound. Democrats had won 22 and Republicans 12 of the 36 gubernatorial races. Two races remained uncalled, one previously held by Democrats and one by Republicans. Five states changed party control, all from Republicans to Democrats. In terms of state legislative chambers, Democrats had won 46 and Republicans 39 of the 88 chambers on the ballot, and one went to a bipartisan coalition. Two legislative chambers remain uncalled. Twelve chambers changed party control, all of which went to Democrats, while zero changed to Republicans.

Trifecta status, defined as control of the governorship and both legislative chambers, had been decided in 44 of the 46 states where at least one trifecta office was on the ballot. In these states, there are 20 Democratic trifectas, 16 Republican trifectas, and 8 divided governments. Two states remain undecided regarding their trifecta status. Eleven states changed status overall. Six of these changed from divided governments to Democratic trifectas, and five changed from Republican trifectas to divided governments. This indicates a broad shift in state power toward the Democratic party across the country.

Republican Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia said after the first leadership meeting that the party wants to be thoughtful and do the right thing. He noted there was a legitimate argument that if the party lost as badly as it did, they should question why they would continue with the same leadership. However, Justice also stated that the current GOP leadership did not cause the problem to happen and that they do a good job. The angst and indecision come as frustrated Republicans are just beginning to reckon with what the election results mean for their future. Two additional Senate races remain uncalled in Alaska and Mississippi that could further deplete their numbers.

Senator John Thune, who replaced Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as leader in early 2025, said before the meeting that they would have a very fulsome and robust conversation about where they go from here. He added that they would then see what the consensus of the conference is. No alternative to Thune has emerged as a challenger. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri said he is not aware of anyone else running for leader but noted that maybe there would be if they waited. Hawley told reporters after walking out of the meeting that the discussion was a frank and honest open microphone meeting. He stated that if you do not think after losing seven Senate seats minimum that you need to change course, you do not know what planet you are on.

Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin had pushed to postpone the leadership decision and walked out of the room as the voting began. He said the conference needs to do some real soul searching but conceded that there is no one else on the ballot. Johnson joked to a reporter, asking if they wanted the job. Oklahoma Senator Jim Lankford said that there is widespread support among Republican senators for Thune, who has made it a point to hear out different viewpoints before making major decisions. Lankford said he supported having the elections on Tuesday because many of the new GOP senators are already in town for freshman orientation. He described the leadership post as a pretty complicated role to manage and noted that no one wants that job.

Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota said that most senators are ready to move forward and that it is time to have leadership in place. Thune has spent much of the last two years navigating President Donald Trump, who has often been at odds with the Senate. While backing Trump on most policies, Thune has refused to change Senate rules and scrap the filibuster to pass voting legislation that would require proof of citizenship for all voters. This position frustrated Trump and enraged some in the president's political base. However, Trump hosted Thune and his family at the White House in October and said Monday that the GOP leader is a very fine man. Trump said the election is up to the Senate.