Hollywood Cheers the Midterm "Blue Tsunami": Kimmel, Mandy Moore and More React
As midterm results rolled in on Tuesday night, Hollywood's reaction was hard to miss. Stars who had spent the final days of the campaign urging fans to vote turned to celebration online and on stage, as Democrats were projected to win majorities in both the House and the Senate.
Kimmel goes first
None of the major late-night shows aired live on election night, Gulf News reported, but Jimmy Kimmel Live! taped later than usual so its host could address the early returns, making Kimmel the first late-night host to comment. Noting that Democrats had taken the House, he told his audience, "The blue wave made landfall, and now the Red Wedding begins," according to Gulf News and Entertainment Daily. Parade reported that Kimmel also celebrated Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming the first Black female governor in American history.
Moore, Midler and the social posts
Mandy Moore posted a series of photos celebrating each win, Gulf News reported, writing that she "hadn't felt this degree of hope in so long" and that "it keeps getting better and better." Bette Midler wrote on Instagram that she was "OVERJOYED," adding: "What a great, great night. Thank you, America! You've saved your beloved country!!" according to Entertainment Daily. Henry Winkler posted on X that "dreams do come true," Bang Premier reported, while John Leguizamo posted an extended video celebrating the results and Wendell Pierce described the moment as a new Reconstruction era, Gulf News reported. Alyssa Milano marked the night on social media with the words "Praise be," Entertainment Daily reported.
On stage in Los Angeles
The Chicks marked election night on stage, opening their Los Angeles concert with a pointed message about the election as fans cheered the results, the Tennessean reported. The band's concert moment was one of the night's most shared stage reactions, alongside the late-night monologue and the flood of social posts.
The build-up
The celebrations followed days of get-out-the-vote posts from across the industry. Gulf News reported that Pedro Pascal, Olivia Rodrigo, Dave Bautista, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Bruce Springsteen and Samuel L. Jackson were among the celebrities who used social media on election day to encourage fans to vote. Hollywood's awards-season calendar keeps many of these names in the spotlight year-round, as explained in our guide to how award shows voting works, and veteran screen stars such as Patrick Stewart and Tom Cruise remain fixtures of the same industry conversation.
What is confirmed, and what is not
This article tracks celebrity reactions, not final election tallies. At the time the reactions were reported, Democrats were projected to control both chambers, while some individual races remained uncalled. Readers following the results themselves should check the latest Associated Press race calls, which continue to update as counting finishes.
Sources: Gulf News, Parade, Entertainment Daily, Bang Premier, The Tennessean.