By — Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/here-are-some-of-the-house-seats-that-democrats-didnt-expect-to-win-but-did Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Here are some of the House seats that Democrats didn't expect to win — but did Politics Nov 10, 2026 3:52 PM EST WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina was in charge of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the organization dedicated to supporting his party's House campaigns. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. But the seven-term congressman wasn't able to save his own seat this year. Republicans floundered in the state after party organizations pulled support from Michael Whatley, their U.S. Senate candidate, as he failed to gain traction against Democratic nominee Roy Cooper. Hudson lost North Carolina's 9th district to Richard Ojeda, a former Army major who became a liberal social media phenomenon during President Donald Trump's…
Here are some of the House seats that Democrats didn't expect to win — but did
In short
Democrats dismantled decades-long Republican holds across multiple states through victories in historically safe conservative territory. In North Carolina, NRCC chair Rep. Richard Hudson fell to Democrat Richard Ojeda following statewide GOP campaign turmoil, while military veterans aided flips in Colorado and Nevada. The sweep also reached Wisconsin, where a first-time candidate captured Paul Ryan's former seat. Notably, Teresa Benitez-Thompson's historic win in Nevada granted Democrats complete unified control of the state's entire congressional delegation.
Key points
- Intraparty fractures hurt Republicans after party groups pulled support from a North Caro…: Intraparty fractures hurt Republicans after party groups pulled support from a North Carolina Senate bid and a retiring Nevada lawmaker condemned his party's nominee.
- Veteran-backed Democratic candidates successfully leveraged demographic shifts and local…: Veteran-backed Democratic candidates successfully leveraged demographic shifts and local defense concerns to flip deeply entrenched conservative strongholds.
- Bryan Steil's defeat ended a Republican winning streak in Wisconsin's 1st district that h…: Bryan Steil's defeat ended a Republican winning streak in Wisconsin's 1st district that had been unbroken since 1993.