Key facts
- HousingWire reported both chambers of Congress flipped from Republican to Democratic control in the November 3 midterms.
- California's Proposition 1 authorized $10 billion in general obligation bonds for housing and $1.25 billion for veteran home loans.
- California's Middle Class Homeownership and Family Home Construction Act authorized up to $25 billion in revenue bonds for a second-mortgage program.
- Florida's Amendment 3 raised the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes on primary residences.
- North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment requiring the General Assembly to limit local property tax levy increases.
- NAR's Shannon McGahn said Realtors-backed candidates won at least 325 races, with results still coming in.
The 2026 US midterm elections on November 3 flipped both chambers of Congress from Republican to Democratic control, HousingWire reported on November 4, and the results extend to governor races and ballot measures that address housing supply, property taxes and down payment aid.
Before the vote, the National Association of Realtors identified 37 competitive US House races and nine competitive Senate races, the outlet reported. Shannon McGahn, NAR's chief advocacy officer, said in an emailed statement that Realtors PAC-backed candidates won in at least 325 races, with more results still coming in. McGahn said NAR's priorities remain increasing housing supply, improving affordability, protecting property rights and expanding homeownership access, and cited the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act as an example of bipartisan action.
In New Jersey, Republican incumbent Christopher Smith won reelection in the Fourth District and Democrat Analilia Mejia won reelection in the 11th, while Democrat Rebecca Bennett defeated Republican Representative Tom Kean in the Seventh, per HousingWire. Wisconsin Republican Representative Scott Fitzgerald won reelection, and in Colorado, as of early Wednesday afternoon, Democrat Eileen Laubacher appeared to be flipping the Fourth District seat held by Republican Representative Lauren Boebert.
Democrat Xavier Becerra won California's governor race after saying he would declare a housing-shortage state of emergency on his first day and expand state mortgage and down payment assistance. Democrat Amy Acton won Ohio's governor race after proposing an expansion of the Welcome Home Ohio program, and Democrat JB Pritzker won reelection in Illinois, where he has backed the Building Up Illinois Developments Plan.
Voters approved several housing-related measures. California's Proposition 1 authorized $10 billion in state general obligation bonds for housing programs and $1.25 billion for the state's veteran home loan program. The Middle Class Homeownership and Family Home Construction Act authorized up to $25 billion in revenue bonds for a second-mortgage program tied to qualifying new construction and conversions. Florida's Amendment 3 increased the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes on primary residences, and North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment requiring the General Assembly to limit local property tax levy increases. Hawaii's Constitutional Amendment 2 authorized the legislature to let counties issue RISE bonds for public improvements supporting housing development.