Democrat Roy Cooper flipped a pivotal United States Senate seat in North Carolina by defeating Republican Michael Whatley in the high-stakes midterm elections on Tuesday, as voters cast ballots to decide the balance of power in Congress and the future of Donald Trump's legislative agenda.

Which key Senate races have Democrats won so far?

Democrat Roy Cooper secured the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by outgoing Republican Senator Thom Tillis, marking the first major pickup of the night for his party as it seeks to reclaim the upper chamber. Simultaneously, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff successfully cruised to re-election in Georgia, securing a vital second term in a closely watched battleground state.

Watch: Election results 2026: LIVE midterm AP race calls and Senate and House maps — Associated Press

When will the final outcome of the midterm elections be known?

While the initial batch of results and early race calls have begun arriving from states including Virginia and Georgia, election experts note that it could take days or even weeks of ongoing vote counting before the final majority control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives is definitively established.

U.S. Capitol building (4420689778)
U.S. Capitol building (4420689778) (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Democrat Roy Cooper has won the race for the open seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis, marking a key win for his party as it seeks to reclaim the upper chamber.

How are the markets and political observers reacting to the midterm results?

Wall Street investors are closely evaluating how the incoming congressional alignment will impact sectors such as stocks, Treasury yields, energy prices, healthcare, defense, and artificial intelligence. Financial analysts and oddsmakers had noted that public polls placed Democrats in a favorable position heading into Election Day following two turbulent years under the current administration.

As election administrators continue processing ballots across the country, political strategists from both major parties are monitoring the trickle of incoming results to determine whether the opposition party will achieve a narrow majority or a broader wave in Congress.

Capitol Building Full View
Capitol Building Full View (Image: Wikimedia Commons)