How close are the House and Senate races? US midterm election results
A week after midterms Election Day, control of the House of Representatives and the Senate have still not been officially settled.
However, the Democratic and Republican parties are almost certainly claiming one chamber each.
The upper chamber of Congress, the Senate, is projected to remain under the Democratic Party’s control. On Saturday night, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto won Nevada, giving Democrats the 50 seats needed to retain their slim majority. Republicans have claimed 49 seats and Georgia will hold a runoff election next month, but Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaking vote.
‘This election is a victory – a victory and a vindication for Democrats, our agenda, and for America and for the American people,’ said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Saturday.
The Georgia runoff election will take place on December 6 between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker.
Meanwhile, the GOP is on the cusp of regaining control of the House. After winning races in Arizona, California and New York on Monday night, the Republican Party is one seat away from taking the lower chamber. The GOP gained eight seats and had 217 as of Tuesday night, while the Democratic Party lost seven seats and had 206.
Republican candidates have leads in four uncalled races. Attention has turned to districts in California and Colorado that will very likely give the GOP the House.
Experts had predicted that the GOP would take both the House and Senate, but the ‘red wave’ failed to materialize. Some Republicans have blamed former President Donald Trump after candidates he supported in high-profile races lost. Even so, Trump is moving forward with a ‘big announcement’ on Tuesday night that is expected to be the launch of his 2024 presidential campaign.
If Republicans win the House and Congress is split, there could be a legislative gridlock for the remainder of President Joe Biden’s term. The Republican-controlled House could refuse to approve bills passed by the Senate with a Democratic majority, and vice versa.
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