The Associated Press declared final victories in outstanding battleground contests as state election directors certified vote tallies from the 2026 midterm elections. Reporting released on November 14, 2026, confirmed that Republican former governor Paul R. LePage won Maine's 2nd Congressional District, defeating incumbent Democratic Representative Jared Golden in a closely contested northern rural showdown. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom secured an upset election to the United States Senate.
Critical Flips Reshape Congressional Chamber Margins
Election administrators completed county audits verifying that LePage flipped Maine's rural northern district by capturing key timber and fishing precincts across Aroostook and Penobscot counties. In Mississippi, local prosecutor Scott Colom defeated incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, flipping a Deep South Senate seat that Democrats had not controlled in decades. Colom stated during his victory address in Jackson: “Our campaign proved that when we speak directly to working families about healthcare, jobs, and accountability, voters across Mississippi will choose honest public service over partisan gridlock.” The victory delivers Democrats a critical cushion in their narrow Senate majority ahead of the 120th Congress, while Republican Ryan Elijah and Democrat Doris Matsui won their respective House contests in central Florida and northern California.
Re-elections and Certification Steps Across Southern States
The Associated Press also projected decisive victories for established incumbents across California and Florida. Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar and Mario Diaz-Balart secured re-election in South Florida districts, while Darren Soto retained Florida's 9th District.
State boards of canvassers across all fifty states must now transmit final certified certificates of election to the Clerk of the House before the statutory December 11 deadline so congressional credentials can be issued.
