The 2026 midterm elections brought significant changes to Washington, D.C., and sent a clear message about the direction voters want the country to take. Democrats won control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, while Virginians reelected Senator Mark Warner and delivered important results in congressional races across the Commonwealth.
For those of us working to prevent gun violence, the results bring renewed opportunities for advocacy at the federal level. There are reasons to be encouraged, but also important realities to keep in mind as we look toward the next Congress.
Virginia Election Results
Virginia voters reelected Senator Mark Warner to a fourth term in the U.S. Senate. Warner defeated Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa, securing another six years representing Virginia.
In the U.S. House, several incumbents held their seats, while Democrats flipped Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, with former Congresswoman Elaine Luria defeating incumbent Jen Kiggans.
Here is a look at the results across Virginia's 11 congressional districts:
Virginia 1st District: Shannon Taylor (D) Flipped!
Virginia 2nd District: Elaine Luria (D) Flipped!
Virginia 3rd District: Bobby Scott (D)
Virginia 4th District: Jennifer McClellan (D)
Virginia 5th District: John McGuire (R)
Virginia 6th District: Ben Cline (R)
Virginia 7th District: Eugene Vindman (D)
Virginia 8th District: Don Beyer (D)
Virginia 9th District: Morgan Griffith (R)V
Virginia 10th District: Suhas Subramanyam (D)
Virginia 11th District: James Walkinshaw (D)
Virginia's congressional delegation is an important part of the national conversation around gun violence prevention. We look forward to working with our elected representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, to advance practical policies that save lives.
A New Balance of Power in Washington
The biggest national takeaway from the midterms is the change in control of Congress.
The U.S. House of Representatives: Democrats have secured control of the House, winning more than two dozen seats previously held by Republicans. With 218 seats needed for a majority, Democrats have already secured enough seats to take control, with additional races still being counted.
The U.S. Senate: Democrats have also secured control of the Senate, flipping at least seven Republican-held seats. The new Democratic majority includes two independent senators who caucus with Democrats. A small number of races remain outstanding, so the final size of the majority is still taking shape.
This represents a significant shift from the current Congress, where Republicans controlled both chambers. Beginning in January 2027, Democrats will have control of the legislative agenda in both the House and Senate.
The change will have implications well beyond any one policy issue. A Democratic-controlled Congress will have greater authority to conduct oversight of the Trump administration, hold hearings, investigate federal agencies, advance legislation and exercise greater influence over the federal budget and presidential appointments.
It also means that President Trump will face a Congress less likely to simply advance his administration's priorities without significant scrutiny.
What Does This Mean for Gun Violence Prevention?
For those of us working to prevent gun violence, the election results offer a meaningful opportunity for progress at the federal level.
Under Republican control, many gun violence prevention proposals faced significant barriers to receiving hearings, advancing through committee or receiving a vote. With Democrats controlling both chambers, we can expect a renewed focus on legislation and policies intended to reduce gun-related deaths and injuries.
We anticipate opportunities to push for progress on several longstanding priorities, including:
Universal background checks: Closing gaps in the background check system to help prevent firearms from reaching people legally prohibited from possessing them.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs): Supporting policies that allow temporary firearm removal when someone poses a serious risk to themselves or others, with appropriate due process protections.
Safe storage: Promoting responsible firearm storage and stronger protections to prevent children and unauthorized individuals from accessing firearms.
Assault-style weapons restrictions: Renewing the conversation around limiting access to particularly dangerous firearms and high-capacity magazines.
Community violence intervention: Protecting and expanding federal support for evidence-based community programs working to prevent shootings and interrupt cycles of violence.
Federal oversight and accountability: Examining the work of federal agencies responsible for firearm regulation, enforcement and public safety.
Having supportive majorities in Congress creates a much better environment for these conversations and legislative efforts. It also gives advocates an opportunity to hold hearings, bring experts and survivors before Congress, and ensure that gun violence remains part of the national policy conversation.
However, there is an important limitation: President Trump still has veto power.
Even if gun violence prevention legislation passes both the House and Senate, the president can veto it. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a threshold that is unlikely to be reached under the current political makeup of Congress.
In other words, Democratic control of Congress does not guarantee that comprehensive federal gun safety legislation will become law. We should be realistic about that.
But it does mean that legislation can advance further than it could under the previous Congress. It means more opportunities for oversight, public accountability, bipartisan negotiations and pressure on elected officials to address the gun violence crisis. It also gives Congress the ability to scrutinize federal policies and resist efforts to weaken existing gun safety protections.
The Work Continues
Election results are important, but they are not the end of the work. They are an opportunity to build on the progress we have made and hold our elected officials accountable for delivering meaningful change.
At Virginians for Change, we will continue advocating for common-sense policies that reduce gun violence, protect children and families, and make our communities safer. We will work with members of Congress from both parties who are willing to put public safety ahead of politics.
We will also continue our work here in Virginia, where state-level leadership and action remain essential. Federal progress matters, but so does what happens in Richmond, in our schools, in our communities and in our homes.
The midterms have created a new political landscape and a renewed opportunity to make progress. We intend to make the most of it.
Gun violence is not inevitable. And preventing it should never be a partisan issue.