Ecstatic scenes and historic moments: What's happened so far in the midterms
Vote counting in this year's midterm elections is under way in the US and early results show gains for the Democrats.
Ecstatic scenes and historic moments: What has happened so far in the midterms
Early midterm results have brought major gains for Democrats, with the party projected to win control of Congress.
Even before polls have closed nationwide in the US, the night has already produced historic outcomes and jubilant celebrations. Here are some of the main moments so far.
Roy Cooper was expected to face a difficult battle in North Carolina
Supporters in North Carolina cheered as Democrats claimed the night’s first Senate seat flip.
The state’s former Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, defeated Republican candidate Michael Whatley.
"Tonight we show the country that when everyday people come together, we can make change," Cooper said as he spoke to supporters on Tuesday.
The last time Democrats won a Senate race in the state was 2008, despite the party pouring huge amounts of time and money into its candidates in recent contests.
Keisha Lance Bottoms beat billionaire businessman Rick Jackson,
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, has been projected to win Georgia’s governor’s race, becoming the first black governor and the first woman elected to the state’s highest office.
BBC’s Carl Nasman described jubilant scenes as the race was called for the Democrats, following the state’s former senator saying the party was "nauseously optimistic" about its chances this year.
Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire businessman and healthcare executive who was backed by outgoing Governor Brian Kemp and President Trump, who spent $200 million of his own money on the race.
The state has also not had a Democratic governor in more than 20 years.
Along with Bottoms being elected Georgia’s new governor,
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has also been projected to win the Senate race there,
securing a second term.
His win was not a surprise, as he held a comfortable polling lead over Republican challenger Mike Collins, a member of the lower House chamber.
After his victory, Ossoff told supporters that for those who "doubted whether our republic would survive" over the past two years, the "first light of dawn is on the horizon".
Republicans had hoped the race would be more competitive because the Peach State has been reliably Republican for decades. Trump also won it in the 2024 presidential election, after Joe Biden narrowly carried it in 2020.
Now that he has won re-election to the Senate, speculation about Ossoff’s plans for the 2028 presidential election is likely to grow - he is seen as a possible leading contender if he decides to run.
In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas has also made history as the first openly gay man elected to the Senate.
He is projected to defeat former Republican Senator John Sununu in the race - a member of one of the state’s political dynasties, with his father and brother both having served as governor.
But the contest between the two was friendly, with Pappas thanking his opponent on Tuesday, saying: "We all owe John Sununu a big debt of gratitude for his public service for the people of New Hampshire."
The 46-year-old Pappas had represented New Hampshire in the House since 2019 but chose not to seek re-election so he could begin his Senate campaign.