# Democrats sweep Senate with historic firsts

> The 2026 midterms brought seven new Democratic senators to Washington, many breaking barriers in American politics.
- Title: Democrats sweep Senate with historic firsts · NPR | Shortify
- Summary: The 2026 midterms brought seven new Democratic senators to Washington, many breaking barriers in American politics.
- Keywords: 2026 midterm election, senate elections, josh turek, julia letlow, abdul el-sayed, peggy flanagan, chris pappas, annie andrews, james talarico, adam hamilton, democrats, NPR
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/11/06/nx-s1-6032814/senate-history-election-pappas-andrews-el-sayed
- Published: 2026-11-06T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: 2026 midterm election, senate elections, josh turek, julia letlow, abdul el-sayed, peggy flanagan, chris pappas, annie andrews, james talarico, adam hamilton, democrats, news
## Democrats flip Senate control
In the 2026 midterm election, Democrats won in a big way up and down the ballot.
## First Paralympian in the Senate
Josh Turek of Iowa will be the first Paralympian to serve in the Senate.The Democrat is a two-time gold medalist in wheelchair basketball and is paraplegic due to spina bifida.He beat Republican Ashley Hinson.
## Louisiana's first Republican woman senator
Julia Letlow of Louisiana has now made history twice.She was the first Republican woman elected to the U.S.House from Louisiana in 2021.
## First Muslim senator elected
Dr.Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan is the son of Egyptian immigrants and the first Muslim person elected to the upper chamber.
## First Native American woman senator
Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota is the first Native American woman elected to the Senate.A member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the state's Democratic Lt.Governor, she will replace outgoing Democratic Sen.Tina Smith.
## First openly gay man in Senate
Chris Pappas of New Hampshire is the first openly gay man elected to the Senate and the first gay man to represent New Hampshire.He served four terms in the House before beating Republican John Sununu.
## South Carolina elects first woman senator
Dr.Annie Andrews pulled off one of the biggest election night upsets by winning in deep red South Carolina.She is the first woman elected to the U.S.
## Texas and Kansas elect Democrats
Texas elected Democrat James Talarico as senator, the first Democrat sent to the chamber since 1988. Kansas elected Adam Hamilton, the first Democrat to serve the state since 1932. Both are pastors breaking Republican strongholds.
## Key takeaway

Democrats won seven Senate seats in the 2026 midterms, flipping control of Congress and electing senators who are America's first Paralympian, first Muslim, first openly gay man, and first woman from their states to the chamber.