Two GOP Wins in Suffolk County Despite National Blue Wave Bloodbath

The Republican Party suffered a devastating nationwide election-night bloodbath Tuesday night, losing control of both chambers of Congress as Democrats toppled GOP candidates in traditionally Republican strongholds, including Texas, Ohio, Iowa and Georgia.

OHIO: Democrat Amy Acton stunned Trump-backed Vivek Ramaswamy in the governor's race, leading approximately 53% to 47%. The former state health director flipped a governorship Republicans had controlled for nearly 16 years. Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown also reclaimed a Senate seat, defeating Republican Jon Husted.

TEXAS: The shock of the nation. Three-term Republican Gov. Greg Abbott lost to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who led approximately 54% to 46%, ending decades of Republican control of the governor's mansion. Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton also fell to Democrat James Talarico, who captured approximately 56% of the vote in a stunning double defeat.

MICHIGAN: Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in the Senate contest, approximately 58% to 42%. Democrat Jocelyn Benson also defeated Republican John James for governor, completing another punishing night for the GOP.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham, approximately 52% to 48%, delivering a stunning upset in a state Trump carried by 18 points in 2024.

KANSAS: Democrat Adam Hamilton ousted Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, approximately 53% to 48%, ending a 94-year Democratic drought in Senate elections. Democrat Cindy Holscher also held a narrow lead over Republican Ty Masterson in the governor's race.

MAINE: Five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins fell to Democrat Troy Jackson, ending one of the GOP's last congressional footholds in New England.

IOWA: Democrat Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn for governor, approximately 56% to 44%. Democrat Josh Turek also defeated Republican Ashley Hinson for Senate, delivering another major blow in a state Trump comfortably carried.

GEORGIA: Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson for governor, approximately 54% to 46%. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff crushed Republican Mike Collins, approximately 59% to 41%.

NORTH CAROLINA: Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley, approximately 60% to 40%, flipping another Senate seat.

WISCONSIN: Republicans suffered a crushing triple defeat. Democrat David Crowley defeated Trump-backed Tom Tiffany for governor, while Democrats seized both chambers of the state Legislature, capturing an 18-15 Senate majority and a 53-46 Assembly majority. Democrats will control the governor's office and both legislative chambers for the first time in 18 years.

Amid the national Republican wreckage, Suffolk County offered two small bright spots: GOP Congressmen Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino, who held narrow leads of approximately two percentage points in their respective congressional races.

While Republicans suffered major defeats in gubernatorial, Senate and congressional races nationwide, Suffolk County's two Republican congressmen will head back to Washington. LaLota's margin of victory fell from roughly 11 points in 2024 to approximately 2.2 points in 2026, while Garbarino's dropped from roughly 20 points to approximately 2.5 points.