Republicans reclaimed control of the U.S. Senate from the Democrats early Wednesday, according to media projections, ending four years in the minority and positioning the party for broader influence across government.
With this victory, an incoming President Donald Trump would have substantial backing to pursue his agenda and make Supreme Court appointments.
In contrast, if Kamala Harris were to win the presidency, she would likely face gridlock in Congress.
The U.S. Capitol is divided between the House of Representatives, where all 435 seats are up for election, and the 100-member Senate, with 34 seats contested this year.
The congressional elections run concurrently with the presidential race.
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Early in the night, West Virginia’s Republican Governor Jim Justice scored a significant victory, winning a Senate seat previously held by Joe Manchin, an independent who often sided with Democrats.
Shortly after, Republicans secured Ohio when businessman Bernie Moreno, a Trump-endorsed candidate, defeated long-serving Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.
Fox News and ABC called the Senate race for Republicans after Senator Deb Fischer successfully defended her Nebraska seat against an independent challenger.
“I look forward to working with President Trump and our new conservative majority to make America great again by making the Senate work again,” stated Texas Senator John Cornyn, a likely leader of the new Republican majority in January.
These victories flipped the Democrats’ 51-49 Senate advantage, with Republicans seeking to strengthen their hold with potential gains in Montana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
Democrats aimed to counter losses with wins in Texas and Florida but ultimately conceded as incumbents retained their seats.
Should Republicans sweep the remaining contested seats, they would hold 55 of the Senate’s 100 seats, granting them considerable leverage to support Trump’s agenda and judicial appointments if he prevails over Harris.
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In a historic outcome, Democrats Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester won Senate seats in Maryland and Delaware, making it the first time two Black women will serve simultaneously in the chamber.
Out of over 2,000 Americans who have served in the Senate, only three have been Black women, including Kamala Harris.
Nonpartisan finance group OpenSecrets reports that $10 billion was spent on congressional races this cycle—almost twice as much as the estimated $5.5 billion spent on the presidential race.
While the Senate approves treaties and key appointments, legislation that generates revenue must begin in the House, where the majority remains undecided and could take days to confirm.
Meanwhile, Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender member of Congress after defeating Republican John Whalen III for a House seat representing Delaware.
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