Democrats win surprise Senate pickups in North and South Carolina

Democrats have won surprise Senate races in North Carolina and South Carolina, according to projections from multiple outlets, in a result that strengthens their path to control of the chamber in the US midterm elections. The two victories came as Republicans went into Tuesday holding a 53-47 majority and needing to defend several seats across the country. The results were described as a setback for President Donald Trump and his party in a contest that remains close overall.

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In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper was projected to defeat Trump-backed Republican Michael Whatley, giving Democrats a crucial pickup in a state that had been expected to be competitive. Cooper, a former two-term governor, campaigned heavily on the cost of food and energy and on affordability more broadly. He told supporters in Raleigh that voters had shown they could make change when they came together, and said he would focus on affordability in Washington.

In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews was projected to win the Senate seat, becoming the first Democrat to take a Senate seat there since 1998. She defeated Republican Darline Graham, who had been appointed after the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, and later sought a full term. Andrews had campaigned on lowering costs for working families, expanding affordable healthcare and protecting reproductive rights, while also opposing what she described as endless wars.

The two wins matter because Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate. With these pickups, the party has moved closer to that target, while still facing other closely watched races in states including Alaska, Iowa, Michigan, Maine, Ohio and Texas. The results also suggest that the party is making gains in places that are usually difficult terrain for Democrats, which could shape the balance of power in Washington after the election.

The South Carolina result is especially notable because the state has long been seen as a Republican stronghold. One report said Trump had carried the state by nearly 18 percentage points in 2024, underlining the scale of the shift represented by Andrews's victory. Her campaign also stood out financially, with reports saying she outraised Graham by $22m, largely through grassroots donations, and had pledged not to accept money from corporate political action committees.

In North Carolina, Cooper's victory reflected his strong statewide profile and support from independent voters. He replaced Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who had announced his retirement after breaking with Trump over Medicaid cuts in the president's tax and spending law. Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair, had never held elected office and campaigned alongside Trump in the state.

The broader Senate picture remains fluid, with millions of votes still uncounted in some states and several races yet to be called. Democrats also held onto seats in Georgia and New Hampshire, which had been considered competitive earlier in the cycle. Those outcomes, together with the Carolina results, point to a difficult night for Republicans even as the final Senate majority is still being decided.

What remains unclear is whether Democrats can convert these gains into full control of the chamber once the remaining races are settled. The final balance will depend on contests still under way in several states, and on whether the party can sustain its momentum beyond the early surprise wins. For now, the Carolina results have become some of the clearest signs of a possible shift in the Senate map.

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