Blue Wave Hits America: Democracy Stood, and Democrats Swept

The country went to the polls on Tuesday and sent a message that could not be misread. Democrats won control of the House of Representatives, according to projections by CBS News, ABC News and CNBC, and seized a majority in the Senate, as NBC News reported. It was a verdict on two years of tariffs, rising prices and a war in Iran, delivered by voters in states that Democrats had not carried in a generation.

The map turned blue in places it never does

In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate, according to the Associated Press. He becomes the first Texas Democrat elected to the Senate since 1988, ending the Republicans' 32-year statewide winning streak. On the same ballot, Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated Governor Greg Abbott.

In Kansas, Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton beat Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, a fierce Trump loyalist, the first Democrat Kansas has sent to the Senate since 1932. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms is projected to win the governor's race, which would make her the first Black woman elected governor of any state in American history. In Ohio, Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy. In Iowa, Rob Sand won the governorship.

NBC News reported that Democrats now hold a majority of the nation's governorships for the first time in 16 years, and full control of state government in Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Arizona's Katie Hobbs and Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro were re-elected, Shapiro by more than 20 points.

Hollywood's home state

California elected Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. health secretary, as its 41st governor and the first Latino ever elected to the office. With most precincts reporting early Wednesday, he led Republican Steve Hilton roughly 64% to 36%, according to the California Secretary of State. Results are certified by December 11.

Why the business behind the business should care

The new Congress will hold the gavels that oversee media mergers, trade policy and the tariffs that have hung over film and music production. The Senate confirms the regulators who approve or block the deals reshaping the studios. As of January, the people asking the questions at those hearings change.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become Speaker of the House when the new Congress is sworn in in January.

Some races are still being counted, including Senate contests in Alaska and Mississippi and dozens of House seats. Newswire Hollywood will update this story as they are called.

Sources: Associated Press race calls via NPR, CBS News, NBC News, CNBC, The Washington Post and the California Secretary of State. Results are preliminary and may change as counting continues.