From TIME · Miranda Jeyaretnam · · 2m
Democrats’ Biggest Midterm Upsets
Democrats flip deep-red districts with underfunded campaigns.
In brief
Democrats flip deep-red districts with underfunded campaigns. Democrats won surprise victories in traditionally Republican districts including South Carolina’s first Democratic senator since 1998 and Texas’s 23rd district. Originally reported by TIME.
Democrats’ Midterm Upsets
A TIME analysis found over a dozen House races where Democrats won despite forecasters rating them as Republican-leaning or safe.
South Carolina Senate Race
Annie Andrews became South Carolina’s first Democratic senator in over two decades, defeating Republican Darline Graham.
Mississippi Senate Race
Scott Colom, a Democratic district attorney, leads Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s Senate race.
Indiana’s 5th District
J.D. Ford, Indiana’s first openly gay member of Congress, defeated Republican Victoria Spartz with less campaign spending.
Missouri’s 2nd District
Fred Wellman, a first-time candidate, became Missouri’s first Democrat elected in the district since 1990.
North Carolina’s 6th District
Cyril Jefferson, the youngest elected mayor of High Point, beat incumbent Addison McDowell with minimal campaign spending.
North Carolina’s 9th District
Richard Ojeda, a former West Virginia state senator, defeated Republican Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
North Carolina’s 13th District
Paul Barringer, a lawyer and tree farmer, defeated Republican Brad Knott in a district last elected by a Democrat in 2022.
North Carolina’s 14th District
LaKesha Womack, a political newcomer, beat Republican Tim Moore with minimal campaign spending and no outside support.
New Jersey’s 2nd District
Zack Mullock, a Cape May mayor, defeated four-term Republican Jeff Van Drew in a district Trump carried by 13 points.
Nevada’s 2nd District
Teresa Benitez-Thompson became Nevada’s first Democrat elected to the district, winning a race no forecaster rated as even a toss-up.
Ohio’s 10th District
Kristina Knickerbocker, an Air Force veteran, narrowly defeated Mike Turner in a district last elected by a Democrat in 2010.
Ohio’s 15th District
Don Leonard, a former Ohio State professor, beat Mike Carey in a district last elected by a Democrat in 2008.
Texas’s 9th District
Leticia Gutierrez, a first-time candidate, won Texas’s 9th district despite minimal campaign spending and redistricting.
Texas’s 23rd District
Katy Padilla Stout, a first-time candidate, defeated Republican Brandon Herrera in Texas’s 23rd district.
South Carolina Senate Race
Annie Andrews became South Carolina’s first woman elected to the Senate since 1998.
What to remember
Democrats won surprise victories in traditionally Republican districts including South Carolina’s first Democratic senator since 1998 and Texas’s 23rd district.
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