The 2026 midterm elections produced a series of historic firsts in the US Senate as Democrats made sweeping gains, flipping more than 40 House seats and seven Senate seats to take control of both chambers of Congress.
Among the incoming senators are the first Paralympian, the first Muslim person and the first openly gay man to serve in the upper chamber, alongside candidates who have broken long-standing barriers in their home states.
Historic firsts in the US Senate
Josh Turek will become the first Paralympian to serve in the Senate after defeating Republican Ashley Hinson in Iowa. A Democrat and two-time gold medallist in wheelchair basketball, Turek is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair because of spina bifida.
Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow has made political history for a second time. She was the first Republican woman elected to the House from Louisiana in 2021 and will now become the first Republican woman from the state to serve in the Senate.
Letlow entered the House through a special election after the death of her husband, Congressman Luke Letlow, who died from Covid-19 in 2020. She won the Senate primary against Republican incumbent Bill Cassidy.
In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim person elected to the Senate. The son of Egyptian immigrants, El-Sayed is an epidemiologist and former health director for the city of Detroit. He defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a closely fought contest.
Minnesota’s Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan will be the first Native American elected to the Senate. A member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, she will replace outgoing Democratic Senator Tina Smith.
Flanagan was also the first woman of colour elected to state office in Minnesota.
New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas will become the first openly gay man elected to the Senate and the first gay man to represent the state in the chamber. The four-term House member defeated Republican John Sununu.
South Carolina also recorded a first after Democrat Annie Andrews won an upset victory in the deeply Republican state. She will be the first woman elected to the Senate from South Carolina.
Andrews defeated Darline Graham, who had been appointed to replace her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
Democrats break through in Texas and Kansas
The election also delivered rare Democratic Senate victories in Texas and Kansas, states that have reliably backed Republicans.
James Talarico won in Texas against Republican nominee Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat from the state to enter the Senate since 1988.
In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated Republican incumbent Roger Marshall. His victory ended almost a century without a Democratic senator from the state; Hamilton will be the first to serve there since 1932.
The results mean both states will send Democrats to Washington, in a contest that also saw both states elect pastors to the Senate.
