US Midterm: Democrats Take Control Of Senate With 54 Seats

Democrats have taken control of the United States Senate after making significant gains in the November 3 midterm elections, ending the Republican Party’s hold on the chamber.

According to NBC News projections, Democrats have secured 54 seats, while Republicans have won 44. Two Senate contests, in Alaska and Mississippi, remained undecided as of November 4.

The results represent a major shift in the balance of power in Washington, with Democrats winning several seats previously held by Republicans in states that had largely favoured the opposition party in recent elections.

Among the states where Democrats flipped Republican-held Senate seats were Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina.

In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, while Josh Turek won the Senate contest in Iowa against Republican Ashley Hinson.

Democrat Adam Hamilton also secured victory in Kansas, ending a long period without a Democratic senator from the state. In Ohio, former Senator Sherrod Brown won against Republican Jon Husted.

In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican incumbent Susan Collins, while Roy Cooper won the North Carolina Senate contest against Republican Michael Whatley.

South Carolina also recorded a Democratic victory, with Annie Andrews defeating Republican Darline Graham.

The party also retained important seats in other states. In Georgia, incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff won re-election after defeating Republican Mike Collins.

In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas defeated former senator John Sununu in the contest to replace retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

However, the results in Alaska and Mississippi remained too close to call, with both states recording narrow margins between the leading candidates.

In Mississippi, Democratic challenger Scott Colom was leading Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by a few dozen votes, with thousands of provisional and other outstanding ballots still to be processed.

The contest could require additional time before a final outcome is established, as Mississippi does not provide for an automatic recount. A candidate seeking a recount may have to obtain a court order.

In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola was ahead of Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan by 626 votes, with about 74 per cent of ballots counted in the figures reported by the Associated Press on November 4.

The state’s ranked-choice voting system could also affect the final outcome if no candidate secures more than half of the first-choice votes. Under the system, candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated and their ballots transferred according to voters’ next preferences.

The Senate outcome is part of a wider set of Democratic gains in the midterm elections. NBC News also projected that Democrats had gained 28 seats in the House of Representatives, putting them at 258 seats against 177 for Republicans, with some contests still awaiting final calls.

The elections are significant because the Senate plays a central role in approving presidential appointments, confirming federal judges and considering legislation. A change in party control is therefore expected to alter the political balance between the White House and Congress.

With Democrats now projected to hold the Senate majority, the remaining contests in Alaska and Mississippi will determine the final size of the parties’ representation in the chamber.

The results mark a major setback for Republicans in an election cycle in which the party had expected to retain its Senate majority.

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