Democrats celebrated a thumping victory after winning large majorities in Congress in the midterm elections on Tuesday. They seized on frustrations over inflation, corporate influence and President Trump. Voters delivered Republicans their biggest losses in decades, unseating them in traditionally conservative states and districts.
But some races were still too close to call Wednesday morning, leaving some questions unanswered: whether Democrats could grow their majorities in the House and Senate, and how far Republicans’ losses would extend.
Here are the races to watch Wednesday:
Two Senate races are too close to call.
Mississippi’s Senate seat was too close to call after Scott Colom, a Democratic prosecutor, mounted an unexpectedly competitive challenge against Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican seeking a second full term. He was a mere 43 votes ahead of her early Wednesday, with more than 940,000 ballots counted.
The razor-thin margin contrasts with Mr. Trump’s 23-point lead in Mississippi from 2024. Mr. Colom’s showing comes amid Democratic Senate wins in other solidly Republican states, including Kansas, South Carolina and Texas.
Alaska’s Senate race could take longer to be called, as about a quarter of the ballots remained uncounted Wednesday morning. Mary Peltola, the Democrat, had a slight edge in the reported vote over Senator Dan S. Sullivan, the Republican incumbent, but her lead appeared fragile.
The bulk of the remaining vote was expected to come from mailed ballots in the sprawling state, where ballot deliveries typically take time. It was also unclear whether either candidate would cross the 50-percent threshold needed under Alaska’s election laws to win. If not, the race would go to ranked-choice tabulation, which would not begin until Nov. 18.
Many key House races are yet to be called.
California’s 22nd District was not called, but Randy Villegas, a progressive Democratic newcomer backed by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, was leading against Representative David Valadao, a Republican. Democrats’ recent redistricting efforts in the state could buoy their candidates, including in the San Joaquin Valley, which leans more conservative than the rest of the state.
Representative Lauren Boebert, a conservative firebrand backed by Mr. Trump in Colorado’s Fourth District, was slightly behind her Democratic challenger, Eileen Laubacher. About six percent of the votes remained uncounted early Wednesday.
The race in Nevada’s Second District, which encompasses the northern half of the state and has long been seen as deeply conservative, was also leaning toward the Democrat. Teresa Benitez-Thompson was leading against David Flippo, a Republican who was supported by Mr. Trump in an open seat.
In Ohio’s 10th District, which includes Dayton, Representative Mike Turner, a Republican, was behind his Democratic challenger, Kristina Knickerbocker, early Wednesday even though election analysts had rated the race as leaning Republican — another illustration of how far the Democratic wave is headed.
North Carolina’s 14th District had been rated by analysts as likely Republican, but Representative Tim Moore, former speaker of the State House, was trailing his Democratic challenger, Lakesha Womack, early Wednesday.
In New York’s 17th District, north of New York City, the Democrat, Cait Conley, was leading Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican, in a key swing seat early Wednesday. Mr. Lawler conceded on Tuesday, but The New York Times has not made a race call.
Westchester County, part of which makes up a major section of the district, faced widespread issues with voting machines on Tuesday. The counting of the votes was scheduled to resume at 11 a.m., the county board of elections said in a statement early Wednesday.
Michigan’s 10th District, north of Detroit, has trended toward Republicans over the past decade. But Christina Hines, a Democrat, was leading against Michael Bouchard, a Republican, in the fight for the open seat on Wednesday morning.
Michigan’s Seventh District is another purple district that has not been called. Representative Tom Barrett, a Republican seeking another term, was trailing William Lawrence, a progressive Democrat who helped found the Sunrise Movement. The district was the most expensive House race from this cycle, where Republicans outspent Democrats in the total of $66.1 million poured into the district, according to AdImpact.
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