Democrats Win Senate Seats in South Carolina, Ohio, Maine, Iowa, Kansas, and Michigan

Democrats captured a majority of the U.S. Senate following a series of wins in six contested states. A Fox News Voter Poll surveying more than 100,000 voters nationwide identifies economic hardship and dissatisfaction with the current president as the primary drivers of these results. The party flipped seats in South Carolina, Ohio, Maine, Iowa, and Kansas, while holding Michigan and Minnesota.

In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated incumbent Republican Darline Graham. Graham had been appointed to the seat after her brother Lindsey Graham died in July. She won less support among rural voters than President Donald Trump received in 2024, capturing 51% of that group compared to Trump's 63%. Andrews, however, secured about 70% of independent voters, a demographic where Trump received 39% two years ago. More than 10% of Republicans crossed party lines to vote for Andrews.

Sherrod Brown reclaimed his Senate seat in Ohio, defeating Republican John Husted. Husted struggled to win over working-class voters, receiving only half the support among those without college degrees that Trump garnered in 2024. Close to six in 10 Ohio voters said Husted was too supportive of the president. The economy was the top concern for voters, with eight in 10 reporting that inflation caused financial hardship in their households.

In Maine, former logger and state Senate president Troy Jackson defeated five-term Republican Susan Collins. Jackson won the support of eight in 10 voters who cited the state of democracy as a major factor in their decision. Six in 10 Mainers said Collins was too closely aligned with President Trump, whose approval rating in the state stands at 40% disapproval. Jackson also outperformed Collins among women, college graduates, and urban voters.

Democrat Josh Turek flipped the Iowa Senate seat held by retiring Republican Joni Ernst, defeating challenger Ashley Hinson. Six in 10 Iowa voters stated that tariffs are hurting the state's economy. The same percentage said they were very concerned about gas prices and that the Iran war was a wrong decision. Turek gained strength among young voters and Hispanics, groups where Trump had previously performed well.

In Kansas, megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Roger Marshall, ending a 100-year streak of Democratic underperformance in Senate races. Marshall faced headwinds from an unpopular president and high gas prices, with more than half of Kansas voters citing fuel costs as a major concern. Six in 10 voters blamed Trump's policies for inflation. Hamilton won over eight in 10 young voters, a group that gave Trump 58% of its support in 2024.

Abdul El-Sayed held Michigan's Senate seat against Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, becoming the first Muslim member of the chamber. More than six in 10 Michigan voters said Rogers was too closely tied to President Trump. Seven in 10 residents described the economy as being in bad shape. Close to nine in 10 Black voters supported El-Sayed, matching their support levels for Kamala Harris in the previous cycle.

Peggy Flanagan retained the Minnesota Senate seat previously held by Tina Smith, defeating Michele Tafoya. The race remained competitive despite Minnesota's historical Democratic lean. Flanagan faced attacks on corruption but maintained support among key demographic groups. The poll indicates that voters across these states prioritized change and economic relief over party loyalty.

The data shows a consistent pattern where Republicans underperformed the 2024 presidential benchmark in rural and non-college-educated demographics. In Ohio, for example, Husted received 61% of voters without college degrees, down from Trump's 61% in 2024. In South Carolina, Graham won 51% of rural voters, also below Trump's 2024 total. These shifts contributed to the Democratic majority in the Senate.