ROUNDUP: Republicans Haven’t Flipped a Single Seat as Special Election Season Comes to a Close

This is the first cycle since 2010 that Republicans have failed to flip a single seat in special elections, as Democrats build undeniable momentum for November

WASHINGTON — Democrats just cemented our historic record in special elections this cycle with a decisive 18-point swing on Tuesday in Michigan’s 35th Senate district, which protected Democrats’ slim Senate majority. Tuesday marked the last competitive special election of the cycle, so Republicans just fumbled their last opportunity to flip a single seat heading into November.

This is the first cycle that Republicans have failed to flip a single seat since 2010 redistricting, when Republicans launched Project REDMAP to win GOP majorities and rig maps across the country.

As the 2026 special election season comes to a close, this is where Democrats stand:

The DLCC is clear-eyed about the stakes of state legislative races in the wake of the Callais decision last week. To counter the onslaught of GOP racial gerrymandering on the horizon, Democrats must build more majorities. We are taking our proven strategy to our ambitious Target Map to seize this historic and crucial opportunity to shift the balance of power in state legislatures this November.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:

“For the first election cycle since 2010, Republicans have failed to flip a single legislative seat in a special election. Republicans can see the writing on the wall, which is why they’re scrambling to redraw maps across the country. With the VRA gutted, our democracy and the future of Democratic power will be determined by the balance of power in state legislatures. The stakes have never been higher, but the DLCC is ready to meet this moment with our most ambitious strategy and target map ever. We’ve been defying the odds in elections all cycle long, and we’re carrying our proven strategy to November to fuel historic wins down-ballot.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) leads the national strategy to secure Democratic power in our state legislatures. We are the campaign arm for more than 3,000 state legislators and thousands of candidates across all 50 states who are advancing Democratic values and standing up to the dangerous MAGA agenda every single day. Over the last decade, our work has flipped 10 new chamber majorities. Those new majorities have ensured Democrats in state legislatures are positioned to protect our democracy and fundamental rights, while addressing the high cost of living and advancing opportunities. The DLCC’s national strategy and target map continue to pinpoint the most efficient paths to Democratic power across all 50 states.