Washington voters deliver Democratic wave as national results confirm sweep

Voters across Whatcom County concluded the 2026 midterm election cycle on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with results that mirror a historic shift in power at the national level. In Washington, the election featured contests for every U.S. House seat, state legislative positions, and local offices, with polls closing at 8 p.m. Local time. The state conducts its elections largely by mail, and early returns indicate a strong alignment with the national trend favoring Democratic candidates. Residents in Bellingham, Marysville, and Lake Stevens participated in a statewide vote that has reshaped the political landscape from the Pacific Northwest to the Gulf Coast.

The 2026 Washington elections included no U.S. Senate race and no governor's contest, focusing voter attention on the House of Representatives and state-level bodies. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the incumbent Democrat representing Washington's 3rd Congressional District, which covers parts of Whatcom County, was projected to win reelection. The Associated Press projected her victory on Nov. 4, confirming that Democrats held the seat. This outcome is consistent with the broader Democratic gains in the House, where the party secured a decisive majority nationwide.

The national results, compiled by the Associated Press and Ballotpedia, show that Democrats have taken full control of Congress. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats won 233 of the 435 seats on the ballot as of 4:12 p.m. ET on Nov. 4, while Republicans won 138. This represents a net gain of 30 seats for the Democratic Party. In the U.S. Senate, Democrats won 20 of the 35 races, with Republicans winning 13. Decision Desk HQ projected that Democrats would win control of the Senate, a significant shift from the Republican majority held since 2024.

For Whatcom County readers, the outcome in the 3rd District is particularly relevant as it directly affects federal representation in the region. The Associated Press identified the race as a battleground, noting that Perez’s victory helps solidify the Democratic majority in the House. The Associated Press also reported that Democrats gained control of state governments in at least five states where they previously shared power, marking the biggest single-election change of partisan power in state governments since 2010. While Washington did not have a governor’s race this year, the state’s legislative chambers were also on the ballot, with Democrats gaining ground in state legislative races across the country.

Democrats will hold at least 28 governorships in 2027, with pickups in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas. In Texas, Democrats took control of the state House for the first time since 2002 and elected Gina Hinojosa as their first Democratic governor since 1994. These wins put pressure on the party to address voter concerns over the rising cost of living, high gas prices, and inflation. Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, stated that the party won historic levels of power in statehouses, a level of flipping seats not seen since the 1980s.

The Republican congressional redistricting efforts, which were urged by President Donald Trump, did not achieve their intended goals. Republicans lost most of the Democratic-held seats they had targeted to flip and also lost seats they had banked on retaining. The AP Voter Poll found that about 6 in 10 voters disapprove of how Trump is handling the presidency, and views of his priorities were mostly negative. This dissatisfaction fueled a Democratic surge that swept out Republican candidates in numerous districts, including those in the Rio Grande Valley and Florida.

In Washington, voters also considered statewide ballot measures, including Initiative 1 regarding public education governance and Initiative 645 concerning income taxes. While final results for these measures were still being tallied by Ballotpedia as of the latest updates, the federal and state legislative races have been largely called. The Associated Press reported that Democrats are eager to tackle high costs of living and confront the president’s final years in the White House. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the first Black speaker of the House, promised to work hard to deliver on the dramatic change requested by voters.

The Associated Press highlighted that the results set up a divided government, with Congress poised to reassert itself as a coequal branch. Vice President JD Vance blamed the war in Iran for Republican midterm losses, while Trump struck a conciliatory tone but warned of gridlock ahead. The AP Voter Poll indicated that concerns about the war and rising fuel prices helped Democrats win control of both chambers. For Whatcom County, the alignment of local results with the national wave suggests a unified Democratic front in the upcoming legislative sessions, with implications for local funding and federal policy decisions affecting the county.

U.S. Stocks soared on Wednesday after the midterm elections, reflecting market optimism about the new political balance. President Trump, who focused on a White House ballroom project on Wednesday, said he would work with Democrats but threatened to use the presidential veto. The Associated Press noted that Democrats are promising a 100-day agenda starting with efforts to lower the costs of gas, groceries, and other goods. This agenda aligns with the priorities of voters in Whatcom County, who faced similar economic pressures during the campaign season.

As the new Congress prepares to convene on Jan. 3, 2027, the results in Washington and across the nation signal a new era of Democratic control. The Associated Press and Ballotpedia data confirm that the 2026 elections were a referendum on the president’s party, with voters choosing change over continuity. For residents of Bellingham, Marysville, and Lake Stevens, the outcome ensures that their federal representatives are part of a majority that plans to prioritize economic relief and legislative oversight in the coming years.