From Yonkers to the nation: The ten Senate races that redrew the map

Polls in Westchester County opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to Ballotpedia. Residents in Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, and White Plains are casting ballots for every U.S. House seat in the state, as well as the governor's office. There is no U.S. Senate election in New York this year, but the outcome of the ten most watched Senate races in the country will define the new balance of power in Washington.

According to Ballotpedia, Democrats have won 20 of the 35 U.S. Senate races called so far, while Republicans have won 13. Two races remain uncalled, and seven seats have changed party control, all shifting to the Democrats. This result gives the Democratic Party a majority of at least 54 seats in the 100-member chamber, as reported by the Associated Press.

In North Carolina, the Associated Press reports that the state is one of the seven where a Senate seat changed party hands. The state’s voters rejected the Republican candidate in a decisive move that contributed to the broader national shift. Similarly, in Georgia, a key presidential battleground state, Democrats secured a victory that helped break Republican control of the state government, according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press notes that Ohio and Michigan also saw significant Democratic gains. In Ohio, the special election for the Senate seat previously held by Vice President J.D. Vance was won by a Democrat, according to Ballotpedia. In Michigan, the Democratic candidate held the seat in a state President Trump won in 2024, demonstrating the reach of this year's voter revolt.

Texas, a state where no Democrat had been elected to statewide office since 1994, saw a Democratic victory in the Senate race, according to the Associated Press. The Associated Press reports that Democrat James Talarico won the majority of voters who said inflation had caused them severe or moderate hardship. This result was part of a broader Democratic takeover of Texas state offices, including the governor's race.

In Maine, the Associated Press reports that Democrat Jackson won the Senate election, defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. This was a critical win because Maine was one of the few states where Republicans were defending a seat in a state that Kamala Harris won in 2024. In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas became the first Native American female senator from the state, according to the Associated Press.

Minnesota also saw a historic first with the election of Democrat Peggy Flanagan, who will become the first Native American female senator, according to the Associated Press. In Kansas, a state typically considered deep red, the Senate seat changed party hands to the Democrats, according to Ballotpedia. The Associated Press notes that Trump visited Kansas during the campaign, underscoring the difficulty of the race.

Alaska remains an outlier in the final tally. According to Reuters, the outcome of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska was unclear on Wednesday, one day after the election. Reuters reports that with an unusual voting system and a legal challenge by the Trump administration, it could be weeks until a final result is known. The Associated Press notes that Alaska had not elected a Democratic governor since 1998, making the Senate race a major focus for both parties.

The Associated Press reports that the Democratic sweep of the Senate will allow the party to reassert itself as a coequal branch of government. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, "Five words for the American people: Relief is on the way." The new majority will have the power to confirm key appointments and pass legislation that can survive presidential vetoes if they secure a 60-vote supermajority.

For Westchester County readers, the local focus remains on the governor's race and the U.S. House seats. According to Ballotpedia, the governor's office in New York is an open seat with no incumbent running. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul won reelection, according to the Associated Press, which helps secure the state's political direction. The Associated Press reports that more than 59 million people had cast ballots before Tuesday, surpassing early-voter turnout from 2022.

The Associated Press reports that the new Congress will begin its work on January 3, 2027. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York is expected to be elected as the first Black speaker of the House. The Associated Press notes that the results present a fundamental reshaping of power in Washington, with new opportunities and challenges for governing the nation in the coming years.