What Happened on Election Night
Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate in Tuesday’s midterms, according to the Associated Press. AP reports Democrats flipped at least seven Senate seats, in Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina, and picked up more than two dozen House districts.
As of early Wednesday, Guns.com put the AP count at 54-44 in the Senate and 228-139 in the House, with two Senate races and 58 House races still uncalled. Those numbers will move as the last races are called, but the majorities won’t.
What the Winners Ran On
Here’s what a few of the new senators said about guns on the trail, as reported by Guns.com. We’re sticking to their own platforms and quotes.
| State | Winner | Defeated | Gun positions reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | James Talarico (D) | Ken Paxton (R) | Universal background checks, mandatory gun lock laws, raising the purchase age for certain semi-auto rifles |
| Michigan | Abdul El-Sayed (D) | Mike Rogers (R) | Everytown-backed; also backed Supreme Court reform and ending the filibuster |
| Minnesota | Peggy Flanagan (D) | Michele Tafoya (R) | Pledged to fight for bans on “assault weapons” and “high-capacity magazines” |
| South Carolina | Annie Andrews (D) | Darline Graham (R) | Universal background checks, mandatory gun lock laws |
| Maine | Troy Jackson (D) | Susan Collins (R) | As a state lawmaker, backed limits on “assault-style weapons,” bump stocks and magazines, and Maine’s 72-hour waiting period |
On the House side, Guns.com reports all eight former Everytown volunteers running for the House won or were leading. One race a lot of our customers followed: Brandon Herrera, the AK Guy, lost his Texas House race to Katy Padilla Stout, who ran on universal background checks, a bump stock ban and red flag laws.
Not every gun-rights name went down. Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, an FFL holder who wrote the provision that took the NFA tax to $0 on suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and AOWs, won a fourth term.
When the New Congress Takes Over
Nothing changes overnight. Under the 20th Amendment, a new Congress starts its terms at noon on January 3, so the 120th Congress seats on January 3, 2027. Until then the current Congress is still in session.
Campaign platforms aren’t law, either. Any bill still has to pass both chambers and get signed by the President, and President Trump stays in office through the rest of his term. We’ll write it up when actual bills get filed, not before.
Where Suppressors and SBRs Stand Right Now
The current rules come from the ATF’s October 9, 2026 open letter. In short:
- ATF isn’t requiring NFA registration or approval for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs. The letter says this applies uniformly, not just to the plaintiffs in the Texas court case.
- The regular Form 4473 and background check still apply, same as buying any other gun from a dealer.
- Machine guns and destructive devices are still fully under the NFA.
- If you’re taking an SBR or SBS across state lines, ATF says to keep filing a Form 20.
- State and local law still controls. Some states ban these items outright or have their own rules.
This rests on a court injunction and agency guidance, not a new statute, so it can change through the courts or Congress. That’s true no matter who won Tuesday. You can read ATF’s press release for their own summary.
What You Can Do Today
If you live in a state that allows them, you can buy a suppressor or SBR from us on a 4473. We ship SBRs to your local FFL where state law allows, and you fill out the 4473 there like any other gun. Check your state law first, and if you’re not sure, give your local FFL a call before you order.
Our how to buy a suppressor guide walks through the process step by step, and you can browse suppressors and NFA firearms and parts any time. Questions about your state? Stop by the counter in Atmore and we’ll help you sort it out.
