Democrats captured House seats across several regions in Tuesday's midterm elections, defeating Republicans in familiar battlegrounds and districts where GOP candidates had won comfortably in 2024. The gains stretched from Northeastern suburbs to South Texas. CBS News had not yet projected winners in dozens of contests, leaving the full extent of the changes unsettled.
Several Republican incumbents lost despite double-digit victories two years earlier. Democrat Fred Wellman defeated Rep. Ann Wagner in Missouri's 2nd District, which the Cook Political Report had classified as solidly Republican as recently as September. In Indiana's 5th District, Democrat J.D. Ford beat Rep. Victoria Spartz, who won by just over 18 points in 2024. Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil lost to Mitchell Berman in the 1st District, giving Democrats representation there for the first time in more than 30 years.
An open Republican seat also changed hands in Nevada. Teresa Benitez-Thompson defeated David Flippo in the 2nd District following the retirement of longtime GOP Rep. Mark Amodei, whose 2024 winning margin was nearly 19 points. Benitez-Thompson will become the first Democrat in decades to represent Northern Nevada. In Virginia's 2nd District, former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria defeated Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans in a rematch. The district includes Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore.
Democrats also made gains in Pennsylvania's competitive districts. Bob Harvie defeated five-term Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in the suburban 1st District. Fitzpatrick, a moderate who had split with President Trump over Iran, had repeatedly survived difficult reelection contests. In the 8th District, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti defeated Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr.
Midwestern results will alter several state delegations. Sean McCann defeated eight-term Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga in Michigan's 4th District. In Iowa, Lindsay James beat Republican Joe Mitchell for the 2nd District seat vacated by Rep. Ashley Hinson's Senate campaign, while Sarah Trone Garriott unseated Rep. Zach Nunn in the 3rd. Iowa's overall results will change its House delegation from four Republicans to three Democrats and one Republican. Democrat Denise Powell also defeated Brinker Harding for Nebraska's 2nd District seat, held by retiring GOP Rep. Don Bacon.
Redistricting played a significant role in Texas, where Republicans had redrawn the map with hopes of gaining as many as five Democratic seats. They ultimately flipped one, while Democrats captured two Republican districts. Republican Jace Yarbrough defeated Dan Barrios in the Dallas-area 32nd District. Those House results accompanied statewide Democratic victories that gave Texas its first Democratic senator and governor in decades.
California Democrats won all five seats they had targeted after voters approved a redistricting plan intended to move several districts leftward. Among the winners were Richard Pan, who defeated Republican-turned-independent Rep. Kevin Kiley in the 6th District, and Marni von Wilpert, who beat Jim Desmond in the 48th. Democratic Rep. Linda Sánchez moved to the redrawn 41st District and easily defeated Republican Mitch Clemmons.
Utah also saw a Democratic gain following changes to its congressional boundaries. Ben McAdams won the newly drawn 1st District, covering Salt Lake City and its suburbs. The district emerged from court-ordered redistricting after a lengthy legal fight, creating a Democratic-leaning seat and the party's strongest opportunity in nearly a decade to flip one of Utah's four House districts.
