The 2026 midterm elections on November 3 were the biggest news event of the year on Bluesky – the run-up alone trended for the whole of October and passed 60,000 posts. Here's a summary of the results as reported so far, what trended on Bluesky afterward, and how to use Bluesky to follow the races that are still being counted.

Results are based on Associated Press and NBC News reporting from November 4–5, 2026. Some races are still being counted; check AP or your state's election website for final, certified results.

2026 Midterm Results at a Glance

House: Democrats win the majority

By the morning after the election, Democrats had gained 19 House seats and led 228–139 in called races, with several races still uncalled. AP reported they were on pace for their largest House majority since 2008. If House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wins the speaker vote when the new Congress meets on January 3, he will be the first Black Speaker of the House.

Senate: Democrats flip seven seats

Democrats flipped seven Senate seats to take control of the chamber, leading 54–44 with two races uncalled. Seats changed hands in Texas (where James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton), Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina. Democrats also held Michigan's open seat, where Abdul El-Sayed beat Mike Rogers.

Still counting: Alaska and Mississippi

  • Alaska: Incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola were separated by a few hundred votes as counting continued, with the lead changing hands during the count.
  • Mississippi: Democrat Scott Colom led incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith by about 1,100 votes with most ballots counted. The deadline to count provisional ballots is November 10, which may be when the result is known.

Neither race affects which party controls the Senate – only the size of the majority.

Turnout

More than 124 million ballots were cast according to the University of Florida Election Lab, with counting still under way – above the previous midterm record of nearly 119 million set in 2018.

What Trended on Bluesky After the Election

Bluesky's Trending Topics in the days after the vote (post counts as of November 8):

  • Trump orders DOJ to investigate Democrats – 9,814 posts, the largest trend of the month so far
  • Democrats urge ICE to unmask agents – 2,698 posts
  • Democratic congressional leadership push – 1,578 posts
  • The "Mamdani lesson" for Democrats – 940 posts
  • Popular vote compact nears 270 threshold – 610 posts
  • Congress weighs Hegseth impeachment, Jeffries sets House Democrats' agenda and Midterm election race results – all still trending a week out

The pattern is the interesting part. Most platforms' election trends fade within a day. On Bluesky, the conversation moved directly on to what the results mean – leadership, agenda, oversight – and stayed on the trend list. That's consistent with who is on Bluesky: a large share of political journalists, pollsters, election lawyers and staffers, plus a politically engaged general audience.

How to Follow the Remaining Races on Bluesky

Uncalled races, provisional ballot counts and possible recounts are where Bluesky is most useful, because the people who know the details – local reporters and election officials – are posting them in real time.

1. Build a results list, not a hashtag search

Election hashtags fill up with opinion fast. For actual numbers, make a Bluesky list of the people who report them: the AP and national decision desks, election analysts, and – most importantly – local reporters in Alaska and Mississippi, who will have county-level updates before anyone else. Pin the list as a feed. Our Bluesky lists guide shows how.

2. Use existing lists and starter packs

Many election journalists maintain public lists and starter packs of political reporters. Find one, follow the list as a feed, or copy the best accounts into your own. See how to find lists on Bluesky.

3. Search smartly

Search the candidate's name or the state plus "Senate", switch to Latest, and narrow with operators like from: to see only trusted sources. Our advanced search guide lists the operators.

4. Set alerts instead of refreshing

Counting can take days. Instead of checking every hour, set a Keyword Alert for "Colom", "Hyde-Smith", "Peltola" or "recount", and you'll be notified when the conversation spikes – usually the moment a race is called.

5. Use a temporary mute when you need a break

Post-election timelines are a lot. Skyscraper's temporary mute lets you mute election keywords for a day or a week, without having to remember to unmute them later.

Following the New Congress

The story doesn't end with the count. Leadership elections, committee assignments and the January 3 start of the new Congress will all play out on Bluesky. Many members of Congress and their staff now post there, and journalists covering Capitol Hill are heavily represented. Our guide to following the Sunday shows on Bluesky and following news outlets on Bluesky are good starting points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2026 midterm elections?

Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate. They gained at least 19 House seats and flipped seven Senate seats, according to AP and NBC News reporting the day after the election.

Which 2026 Senate races are still undecided?

As of November 5, Alaska (Sullivan vs. Peltola) and Mississippi (Hyde-Smith vs. Colom) were still being counted. Mississippi's provisional ballot deadline is November 10.

What was the turnout in the 2026 midterms?

More than 124 million ballots, according to the University of Florida Election Lab with counting still under way – a new midterm record, above the roughly 119 million cast in 2018.

Is Bluesky good for following election results?

Yes, especially for close races. Many election reporters, analysts and local journalists post live updates on Bluesky, and lists let you follow just those accounts in a chronological feed.

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