The Republican Party has regained control of the U.S. Senate, achieving what had been seen as one of their most attainable goals in this election cycle. The GOP reclaimed the majority after Democrats lost their slim, one-seat hold on the 100-member Senate.
Two Senate seats were flipped to Republicans: Trump-endorsed businessman Bernie Moreno defeated three-term Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio, while Trump loyalist Jim Justice won the West Virginia seat previously held by Democrat-turned-independent Joe Manchin.
Republican incumbents also held their ground in key states. In Texas, Ted Cruz defeated Democrat Colin Allred, and in Florida, Rick Scott beat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. In Nebraska, union organizer Dan Osborn ran an unexpectedly strong independent campaign against Republican incumbent Deb Fischer, who ultimately retained her seat.
In a victory speech from West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump praised the party’s successes in the Senate as “absolutely incredible.”
By early morning Eastern Time, several competitive Senate races remained uncalled, leaving open the possibility for Republicans to expand their majority by a few more seats.
In Nevada, Democrat Jacky Rosen was leading over Republican Sam Brown, although many votes were still uncounted and final results could take days, according to the Associated Press. In Montana, Democrat Jon Tester trailed behind Trump-backed businessman and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, with a substantial number of votes left to be counted.
The Republicans’ Senate control will place them in a strong position for confirming senior officials in the incoming administration, as well as potentially influencing the appointment of new U.S. Supreme Court justices if vacancies arise. At least two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, are expected to retire soon, while there has been speculation about liberal justice Sonia Sotomayor’s future.
With control shifting back to the GOP, the race to succeed Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has announced plans to retire, has intensified. Top contenders include John Thune of South Dakota, Texas Senator John Cornyn, and Florida’s Rick Scott. Cornyn announced his bid for the leadership shortly after the GOP’s Senate win, emphasizing his experience working with Republicans and his prior role as GOP vote-counter during Trump’s first term.
“This election isn’t about us but what’s best for the nation,” Cornyn said, pledging to work with President Trump and the new conservative majority to strengthen the Senate.
Thune, initially viewed as McConnell’s likely successor, also issued a statement, describing the Republican victory as an opportunity to “turn the page on this costly chapter of American history.”
The leadership election, to be held by secret ballot, is scheduled for late November.
The Republican victory had been widely expected, as the Democrats faced a challenging electoral map, with several incumbents retiring or competing in GOP-dominant states. Even a potential win for Democrats candidate Kamala Harris in the presidential race would not have prevented Republicans from reclaiming Senate control.
Manchin’s retirement in West Virginia was a strong indicator of Republican momentum. The seat he vacated went to the state’s Republican Governor, Jim Justice, who defeated Democrat Glenn Elliott, the mayor of Wheeling.
