By: Louise Wallraff

Last Tuesday night was an unprecedented win for democrats, with both the Senate and House of Representatives comfortably winning the majority. Even long-time republican strongholds like Kansas, South Carolina, and Texas “turned blue”.

In a time of hyper partisanship, Americans came together to vote against an administration driving up the cost of living, funding an unwanted war, and supporting reckless ICE agents. Although President Trump wasn’t on the ballot, this is a direct rebuke against what his administration has, and hasn’t done, in the past two years.

As of now, the senate is secured 54-44, with democrats winning in many states President Trump won by double digits in 2024. The Mississippi and Alaska senate races still remain too close to call. Wins in states like Kansas where a democrat hasn’t been elected in 94 years, or in Texas where James Talarico won despite Elon Musk spending half a billion speak loud. 

The house is currently 254-165, a majority not seen since the Obama era in 2008, with 16 undecided races. Democrats improved their performance in 99% of the roughly 2,100 counties nationwide compared to 2024, especially in counties with Hispanic voters, as well as young voters. Angie Nixon, a democratic socialist running in Florida with minimal support from her party only lost by two points.

There are many other notable achievements. Georgia elected the United States’s first black woman as Governor, Keisha Lance Bottoms. Michigan elected the first Muslim U.S. Senator, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. Minnesota elected the first Native American Female Senator, Peggy Flanagan. New Mexico elected the first Native American Female Governor, Deb Haaland. New Hampshire elected the first openly gay male Senator, Chris Papaas. Lastly, there was a record number of women running for congress.

What’s next? Right after democrats started their sweep, news anchors were already discussing the 2028 presidential election and what this means for both parties. This is mainly speculation, as no noteworthy presidential campaigns have been announced.

As for what our nation’s Senators and Representatives plan on doing when they get sworn into office in January, there remains some conflict. While more moderate democrats are arguing for bipartisanship and working with the Trump regime, progressives and anti-establishment democrats support immediately investigating the current administration and passing the policies American voters are asking for.

There is a last minute attempt to elect Chris Van Hollen over Chuck Schumer for Senate Majority leader, as some senators argue Chuck Schumer is far too aligned with the status-quo. Hakeem Jefferies is on track to be the first Black House majority leader, although he is being criticized for the same reasons.

Overall, the record 124 million voters shows that right now people have hope for better futures and want to make their voices heard, we can only hope democrats are able to deliver their promises when they step into office in January.