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Democrats swept congressional races across the country, flipping both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that left many shocked at the breadth of the Democrats’ win this midterm election.
Democrats flipped two major House seats in the Mid-Hudson Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania regions – New York’s 17th and Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional districts – but in rural local and state races, Republicans held onto key state legislature seats in more established GOP-controlled areas.
Here’s a breakdown of nearly two dozen races we were watching on Election Day.
Congressional Races
New York’s 19th congressional district: Incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Josh Riley won his second term against State Senator Peter Oberacker in the state’s 19th congressional district. The rural district spans the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, extending into the Capital District and the Catskills regions and includes Sullivan, Ulster, and Delaware counties.
Cost of living, rising energy costs, and protecting rural farmland from predatory developers were among the top issues both candidates narrowed in on leading up to Election Day.
Riley won in November 2024 after defeating former Rep. Marc Molinaro in a tight race. Oberacker wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday night that he had called Riley to congratulate him on the victory and that he’ll “keep fighting for Upstate New York, and [he] hope[s] Congressman Riley joins [him].”
New York’s 18th congressional district: Democratic and Working Families Party-endorsed incumbent Rep. Pat Ryan defeated Republican nominee Jackie Auringer. The district includes Orange, Ulster, and Dutchess counties. The Associated Press declared Ryan the winner at 9:37 p.m., based on unofficial results.
New York’s 17th congressional district: Democratic nominee Cait Conley defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in one of the country’s most closely watched races for Democrats’ fight to control the House. It was also one of the most expensive congressional races in the 2026 midterm elections, with political spending from both parties topping $50 million, according to a Times Union analysis.
Lawler positioned himself as a moderate Republican and repeatedly pointed to when he stood up to President Trump. Meanwhile, Conley criticized Lawler for voting for massive Medicaid cuts in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, or H.R.1.
Conley, a political newcomer and Army veteran, won the Democratic primaries in June amidst a crowded field. New York’s 17th district includes Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties.
Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district: Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti defeated Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, flipping Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district seat. It’s one of a handful of House seats that helped Democrats take control of the House of Representatives Tuesday night.
Our news partner WVIA joined Cognetti at her victory party on Tuesday night, where she promised change for Americans.
“Guys, we won!” Cognetti said to cheering supporters on Nov. 3. “I am so incredibly grateful to each and every one of you.”
Cognetti is the current Scranton Mayor and the first woman elected mayor in the city. The district includes Wayne, Pike, Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania.
State Races
New York Governor: New York Governor Kathy Hochul won her reelection on Election Day, defeating Republican nominee and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Hochul and Blakeman sparred over energy costs and immigration on the campaign trails, with Blakeman criticizing Hochul’s Local Cops Local Crimes Act limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE and Hochul criticizing Blakeman for failing to condemn ICE’s mass deportation arrests. The Associated Press declared Hochul the winner at 9:00 p.m. when polls closed.
Pennsylvania Governor: Incumbent Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro won his reelection on Tuesday, easily fending off Republican challenger Stacy Garrity. State Treasurer Garrity was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
The Associated Press declared Shapiro the winner at 8:01 p.m. one minute after polls closed.
Shapiro is a popular contender for the 2028 U.S. presidential election and won the majority vote in both Wayne and Pike counties. He assumed office in January 2023 and signed an executive order that data center developers must comply with Pennsylvania’s GRID energy requirements.
READ: Democrats Say They’ve Won The Pennsylvania House And Senate, Handing Shapiro A Powerful Trifecta
New York State Comptroller: Incumbent Democrat and Working Families Party candidate Thomas DiNapoli won his fifth term as state Comptroller against Republican and Conservative Party nominee Joseph Hernandez.
DiNapoli has held the position since 2007 and defeated two challengers in the June Democratic primary. The state comptroller oversees New York’s finances, audits state agencies and local governments, and manages the state’s more than $300 billion pension fund.
New York Attorney General: Democratic incumbent Attorney General Letitia James won her third term for New York Attorney General against Republican nominee Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor. James won with about 60 percent of the vote, with Komatireddy securing 39 percent of the vote based on unofficial results. James has held the position since 2019.
New York Senate:
- New York’s 51st Senate District: State Assemblymember Christopher Tague defeated Democratic nominee Michele Frazier for New York’s 51st Senate district. The state district includes Delaware, Sullivan, and Ulster counties, along with Schoharie, Otsego, Broome, and Chenango counties.
Tague posted to social media on Wednesday early morning dubbing the senate district “TAGUE Country!”
“I want to thank the good people of the 51st Senate District for putting their trust and confidence in me. I’m truly humbled and grateful. I’m just a farm kid from Schoharie County who never forgot where he came from or who he works for,” wrote Tague. - New York’s 39th Senate District: Dutchess County Legislator Lisa Kaul flipped the state’s 39th Senate district, defeating incumbent Republican Senator Robert Rolison. The district includes a significant cluster of the Mid-Hudson Valley region, including Ulster, Putnam, and Dutchess counties.
Kaul said in a press statement that she’s looking forward to getting to work.
“I look forward to building a Hudson Valley where working families can afford to stay, our children can thrive, and every community has a voice. I am honored by the opportunity to serve and committed to earning the trust of every person in the district,” said Kaul.
New York Assembly:
- District 102: In New York’s 102nd Assembly District, Republican nominee and former U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro won against Democratic nominee Janet Tweed. Assemblymember Chris Tague vacated the 102nd Assembly seat – which includes Delaware and Greene counties – to run for the state’s 51st Senate district seat.
- Also watching: State Assemblymember District 103 Sarahana Shrestha won her third reelection, defeating Republican Santos Lopez. District 100 Assemblymember Paula Kay and District 101 Assemblymember Brian Maher both won their reelections unopposed.
Pennsylvania Senate: Incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Baker won against Democratic candidate and longtime educator Jackie Baker for Pennsylvania’s 20th Senate District. Baker will serve her sixth term for the senate district that includes Pike and Wayne counties, along with Luzerne, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives: State Rep. Jonathan Fritz won his reelection against Democratic candidate Kyle Devlin for the state’s 111th Legislative District. The rural district comprises Wayne and Susquehanna counties. Rep. Jeff Olsommer also held onto his seat at the 139th state district, defeating Democratic challenger Dominique Azzolini.
Key Local Races
Sullivan County:
- Highland: Incumbent Democrat Town of Highland Supervisor John Pizzolato won his reelection, defeating Republican challenger Mary Ellen Carney. Pizzolato won with 550 votes, Carney captured 483 votes, and there were 2 write-in candidates based on unofficial county results as of 10:12 a.m. on Nov. 4.
- Cochecton: Town of Cochecton Deputy Supervisor Ed Grund defeated Democratic nominee Leanna Ballester and Independent nominee Scott Goodman for the open Town of Cochecton Supervisor seat. Grund won about 52% of the vote with 352 votes, Ballester won 165 votes, Goodman with 146 votes, and 2 votes were write-ins.
- Mamakating: Incumbent Democratic and Conservative-endorsed Town of Mamakating Supervisor Peter Goodman also won his reelection against Republican candidate Viktor Gjelaj looking to unseat him.
Orange County:
- Newburgh: Democratic candidate Stephen Krasner holds a 7-vote lead for the Town of Newburgh Supervisor seat against Republican candidate Scott Manley based on unofficial county results as of 12:26 a.m. on Nov. 4. Incumbent Supervisor Gil Piaquadio did not seek reelection but endorsed Manley.
The Town of Newburgh came under the national spotlight after federal records show a federal lease award in Newburgh that suggests ICE activity.
- Orange County Sheriff: Republican incumbent Orange County Sheriff is projected to win his second term against Democratic nominee Bernie Rivers. Arteta secured 52 percent of the vote, while Rivers won 47 percent of the vote based on unofficial county results as of 12:26 a.m. on Nov. 4. Arteta was one of 15 county sheriffs who sued Hochul over a new state law that limited local law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
Delaware County:
- Roxbury: Democratic nominee Thomas O’Brien defeated incumbent Republican Town of Roxbury Supervisor Allen Hinkley. O’Brien secured 720 votes and Hinkley secured 351 votes based on unofficial county results as of 10:54 p.m. on Nov. 3.
- Delhi: Democratic incumbent Town of Delhi Supervisor Maya Boukai won her reelection, defeating former town supervisor Mark Tuthill. Boukai won 875 votes, with Tuthill securing 572 votes based on unofficial county results as of 10:54 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Editor’s Note: A correction to this article was made on Nov 4, 2026 to update the name of Republican Santos Lopez.