Newly elected Democratic U.S. Senators walk toward an orientation meeting inside the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 09, 2026 in Washington, DC. From left to right are Sen.-elect Juliana Stratton (D-IL), Sen.-elect Annie Andrews (D-SC), Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan (D-MN), Sen.-elect James Talarico (D-TX), Sen.-elect Josh Turek (D-IA), and Sen.-elect Troy Jackson (D-ME). Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Two years ago, voters sent Democrats a message when they ousted them from power in Washington. At first glance, last week's midterm results sent a new one.

Democrats will enter the next Congress with one of the largest majorities in a generation, flipping dozens of House districts and at least seven Senate seats in mainly Trump-won communities.…