Democrats are projected to maintain control of the Senate after emerging victorious in key races in battleground states, extinguishing Republican hopes of flipping both congressional chambers.
Though the GOP is still projected to gain control of the House of Representatives, the Democrats kept the Senate after winning battles in Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
“Democrats will have a majority again in the Senate! This election is a victory and vindication for Democrats, our agenda and our accomplishments, and for America and the American people,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement after the Nevada race was called late Nov. 12.
Democrats will have at least 50 seats in the 100-seat chamber. Vice President Kamala Harris is president of the upper chamber, giving her the ability to cast tiebreaking votes. The Georgia Senate runoff has been scheduled for December.
In Arizona, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) held off venture capitalist Blake Masters, according to the projections. In Nevada, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) beat former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt. And in Pennsylvania, Lt. Gov John Fetterman prevailed over Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Republicans did win several closely watched races. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) beat Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Author J.D. Vance trumped Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio). And Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) bested former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley.
But Republicans needed to win more races to flip control of the Senate, which the Democrats currently control despite it being 50-50 because of Harris’s ability.
The final outcome, as of now, means that Schumer will remain majority leader when the next Congress is seated in January 2023. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is expected to keep his position, though some senators have said he should step aside due to the failure to secure a majority.
