Republicans have secured control of the US Senate following victories in Montana, Ohio, and West Virginia, assuring that Donald Trump’s party will lead at least one chamber of Congress in the upcoming year.
The GOP is expected to maintain a majority of at least 52-48 in the US Senate and has gained three additional seats in their 220-212 majority in the House of Representatives. However, with 51 of the 435 races still undecided, the final control of the lower chamber remains uncertain.
If Republicans succeed in the House, they would be positioned to steer the legislative agenda in Washington, aiding Mr. Trump in his commitment to reduce taxes and impose restrictions on immigration for at least the next two years until the 2026 midterm elections.
The outcomes also guarantee that Republican senators would assist Mr. Trump in appointing conservative judges and other officials within the government.
In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno is anticipated to defeat Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown, who is seeking a third term.
Bernie Moreno is projected to take the Senate seat in Ohio
Republicans have the potential to expand their Senate majority further, as their candidates are currently ahead of Democratic incumbents in Pennsylvania and Nevada.
Nevertheless, Republicans will not achieve the 60-vote majority necessary to advance most legislation within the chamber.
This Senate session will mark a historic moment with the simultaneous service of two Black women, as Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester has won in Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks has emerged victorious in Maryland.
Read more: Latest US Election stories. Live: Updates as they happen
Republicans have also claimed several races, which may enable them to increase their 220-212 majority in the House, though the final results may remain unknown for several days.
They secured a Democratic-held district in Pennsylvania that encompasses Scranton, the hometown of Democratic President Joe Biden, and captured seats from Democrats in North Carolina, where they had redistricted to their benefit, alongside another win in Michigan.
Democrats managed to win a Republican-held seat in upstate New York and a seat in Alabama that was redrawn to comply with a US Supreme Court mandate aimed at establishing a Black majority district.
Democrats now require at least seven seat flips to gain control of the 435-seat chamber.
However, their chances of achieving this appear to be decreasing, as Republican incumbents successfully won competitive reelection battles in Colorado, Iowa, New Jersey, and Virginia.
In Delaware, voters made history by electing Democrat Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress.
With roughly 200 seats considered safe for each party, the victorious faction is likely to end up with a slim majority that could complicate governance.
This has been evident over the past two years, as internal divisions among Republicans have resulted in failed votes and leadership issues, undermining the party’s attempts to reduce spending and tighten immigration controls.
Tight races in the heavily Democratic states of New York and California could play a crucial role in determining House control, and California typically requires several days for ballot counting.
