Democrats regained control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, flipping several Republican Senate seats and clearing the threshold for a House majority while dozens of races remained undecided.

In the Senate, Democrats won Republican-held seats in Maine, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina. They also defended open seats in Michigan and New Hampshire.

Two additional Republican-held seats remained unresolved early Wednesday. Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith was locked in a close contest with Democrat Scott Colom, while Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan held a narrow advantage over former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola.

In the House, Democrats had secured 228 seats to Republicans’ 139, with 68 races still uncalled. A party needs 218 seats to control the chamber.

The remaining results will determine the size of the Democratic majority and how much room party leaders have to maneuver when the new Congress convenes in January. Competitive gubernatorial races in Alaska and Kansas also remained undecided.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer celebrated the results as a rejection of Republican control.

“The American people reduced the red brick wall to a pile of bricks,” Schumer told reporters. He promised voters that “relief is on the way.”

Republican Senate leader John Thune pledged to oppose Democratic efforts to reverse the party’s policies. He warned against the influence of the Democrats’ socialist wing and said Senate Republicans would work with President Donald Trump to resist proposals they consider extreme.

Trump had urged supporters throughout the campaign to vote as though he were personally on the ballot. As Republican losses mounted Tuesday night, however, he argued on social media that the outcome would have been different had he been running.

“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” he wrote.

Later, speaking with Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, Trump offered a more conciliatory assessment.

“I think the Democrats did a good job,” he said, adding that he could work with their incoming congressional majorities “on many things.”

The results set up divided government, with Democrats preparing to take control of Congress while Trump remains in the White House.

About Post Author

MichCon

See author's posts