WASHINGTON — Even in an election cycle marked by surprises and upsets, Capitol Hill observers will spot some familiar faces (identical twins notwithstanding) among this year’s midterm winners.

At least seven former members won comeback bids Tuesday.

The winners included alumni who dusted themselves off after election losses just two years ago. Other winners haven’t been in office in nearly two decades, their service predating the addition of a women’s restroom in the House (more recent than you might guess).

Here’s how these former members did on election night:

Returning to Capitol Hill

Former Alabama Rep. Jerry Carl (R)

Carl lost a primary to fellow Republican Rep. Barry Moore in 2024 after a new map placed them in the same district. But with Moore running for the Senate in 2026, Carl had an easier path back to his old seat, which was redrawn again this year. He defeated his Democratic opponent Tuesday by 18 points.

Former California Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D)

It has been nearly two decades since Solis last served in Congress. She left in 2009 to serve as President Barack Obama’s first Labor secretary. Solis was in her sixth term as a Los Angeles county supervisor when she announced a bid for Congress after California voters approved a map that created five Democratic pickup opportunities.

Solis faced limited resistance on her path to victory in the 38th District, especially after Democratic Rep. Linda T. Sánchez opted to run for the redrawn 41st District.

Former Illinois Rep. Melissa Bean (D)

Bean is making her way back to the House after losing her suburban Chicagoland seat in the conservative tea party wave of 2010.

A decade-and-a-half later, she won an eight-way primary for the 8th District seat Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi vacated for an unsuccessful Senate bid. Winning the nomination all but guaranteed Bean a November victory in the deep-blue seat.

Former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D)

One of the cycle’s biggest comeback stories was in the Buckeye State, where Sherrod Brown was mounting a comeback bid two years after Republican Bernie Moreno had unseated him. Positioning himself as an opponent of data centers, Brown defeated appointed GOP Sen. Jon Husted in a special election for the remainder of Vice President JD Vance’s term. He could take office as early as December but would have to run again in 2028 if he wants another full term.

Former Texas Rep. Colin Allred (D)

First elected in 2018, Allred left Congress two years ago after an unsuccessful Senate campaign against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz. After briefly launching a second Senate bid, Allred switched to a redrawn open House seat and won his primary over Rep. Julie Elizabeth Johnson, his successor in the chamber. Allred had no trouble winning his general election Tuesday for a fourth House term.

Former Utah Rep. Ben McAdams (D)

McAdams served one term in Congress representing a battleground Utah seat, before being unseated by Republican Burgess Owens in 2020. But after a state judge approved a new congressional map that created a heavily Democratic seat anchored in Salt Lake City, McAdams jumped into the race. He comfortably won his primary over more progressive opponents and stomped his way to a second term on Tuesday.

Former Virginia Rep. Elaine Luria (D)

Once a high-ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, Luria lost her Hampton Roads seat in 2022 to Republican Jen Kiggans.

But a week after Virginia Democrats posted strong showings in the commonwealth’s 2025 off-year elections, Luria launched her House comeback bid and went on to oust Kiggans on Tuesday.

Not returning to Capitol Hill

Former Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers (R)

Former House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers left the House after the 2014 elections and made his first Senate bid 10 years later. He lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin but sought the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters the following year.

Rogers tried to take advantage of Democratic divisions between primary winner Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens, even winning a late endorsement from the congresswoman. But it was not enough to stop El-Sayed on Tuesday.

Former New Hampshire Sen. John E. Sununu (R)

Republican John E. Sununu served three terms in the House and one in the Senate before losing to Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in 2008. With Shaheen retiring, Sununu attempted a comeback but ended up losing decisively to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.

Races not called as of Wednesday afternoon

Former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola (D)

Two years after losing her at-large House seat to Republican Nick Begich, Peltola chose to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The race was rocked by late revelations by The New York Times that top aides to Peltola’s campaign were closely involved in recruiting a second candidate named Dan Sullivan into the race to peel votes from the incumbent. As of Wednesday afternoon, Peltola was clinging to a narrow lead as votes were counted.

Former Virginia Rep. Tom Perriello (D)

Perriello won an upset victory in a Charlottesville-anchored district in 2008 before losing reelection in the tea party wave two years later. He challenged freshman Republican John McGuire for the current version of the seat but was narrowly trailing as of Wednesday afternoon and McGuire has already declared victory.

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