Seven Senate Flips and a String of Firsts: How Democrats Took the Senate

Democrats flipped at least seven Republican-held Senate seats on Tuesday, winning races in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas, according to Associated Press calls summarized by USA Today and other outlets.

In Texas, state legislator James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat since 1988, in what became the most expensive Senate race in American history. Paxton had been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated incumbent Senator Roger Marshall, the first Democratic senator from Kansas since 1932. In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson ousted five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews won the seat held by Republicans.

In Michigan, progressive former public health official Abdul El-Sayed defeated former Representative Mike Rogers, becoming the nation's first Muslim U.S. senator. He led about 54 percent to 44 percent with roughly 91 percent of votes tallied early Wednesday, and he replaces Senator Gary Peters.

Democrats also retained all of their own Senate seats, according to the overnight reporting. In Minnesota, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan held off former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya. The Mississippi race, between Democrat Scott Colom and Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, was still too close to call early Wednesday.