By Bailee Neyman

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Americans voted across the country in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

Plenty of University of Maryland students took part in the midterms. They make up a fraction of the estimated 27% of young voters that turned out for the midterm elections, according to CIRCLE. This is the second-highest turnout for young voters in the midterm elections in the past 30 years, second only to 2018.

While The Associated Press has not finished declaring races with one Senate, 12 House and two gubernatorial races left to be called as of Nov. 11, the Democrats have flipped enough seats that many referred to the results as a “blue wave” or “blue tsunami.”

As of Nov. 11, the Democrats have flipped eight seats in the senate, leaving a total of 55 Democrats to 44 Republicans. They have also picked up 44 seats in the House, leaving a total of 255 Democrats to 168 Republicans so far.

Freshman criminology and criminal justice major Megan Martinez felt things might not change despite the shift in political power.

“I feel like because we’re still under a certain administration … [the newly elected candidates are] not going to be making a lot of change until after,” she said. “I feel like it depends on the issues.”

Maryland’s 4th Congressional District, which includes College Park, reelected incumbent Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey.

Maryland voters also passed all three ballot questions: To include funding in the state budget for agreements with the state and its employees, to allow for temporary appointments on the Commission of Judicial Disabilities in the case of vacancies and to clarify that state constitutional requirements for state legislative districts do not apply to congressional districts.

Gia Chipley, a freshman enrolled in letters and sciences, expressed enthusiasm about the overall congressional results.

“I’m very excited. I think I didn’t realize how many first-time candidates were possibly going to win, and now it’s really cool to see,” she said.

The midterms brought many historic firsts.

In New Mexico, Deb Haaland will become the first female Native American governor; Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan will become the first female Native American senator.

Keisha Lance Bottoms will become Georgia’s first female governor and the first Black female governor nationwide. In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas will be the first openly gay man elected to the Senate, and in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed will become the first Muslim American senator.

For some UMD students, the election was also their first time voting.

Aurna Dasgupta, a sophomore bioengineering major and first-time voter, said she had a great voting experience and that poll workers celebrated her first vote alongside her. Dasgupta expressed a positive outlook on the results.

“I think that they’re really a result of things that people want to see change,” she said.

Senior math major Dua Naqvi said she remains anxious about the future despite being hopeful about the results.

“The overall thing with politics is you really never know where something’s gonna go,” she said.

All newly elected congressional officials are scheduled to take office on Jan. 3, 2027.

Featured Image: A TerpsVote podium in Tawes Plaza at the University of Maryland on Nov. 9. Photo by Vanessa Lim.