Democrats Projected to Win Control of U.S. Senate, Giving Party Both Chambers of Congress

Democrats are projected to win control of the United States Senate, according to projections by Decision Desk HQ and NBC News reported by USA Today, completing a Democratic takeover of Congress after the party had already been projected to win a majority in the House of Representatives earlier in the evening.

Democrats needed to pick up four seats to take control of the chamber, USA Today reported. The party flipped Senate seats in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Kansas and Iowa, according to USA Today, and Realtor.com reported the flips were based on AP projections.

Flips in six states

In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, USA Today reported, becoming the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat since 1988. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews won the Senate seat, and in North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper flipped the state’s Senate seat, according to Realtor.com.

Democrat Sherrod Brown won in Ohio, Democrat Adam Hamilton won in Kansas, and Democrat Josh Turek won in Iowa, USA Today reported. Hamilton is projected to be the first Democrat to win a Kansas Senate seat since 1932, USA Today reported.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, said in a victory speech after Democrats took back the Senate that the party had beat the odds by listening to voters, USA Today reported. “We have five words for the American people,” he said. “Relief is on the way.”

What changes with Senate control

Control of the Senate gives Democrats a say over legislation, confirmations and the agenda in Washington for the next two years. USA Today reported that Democrats are likely to pursue reversing Medicaid and food stamp cuts, reasserting Congress’ role on foreign trade policy, and seeking agreement on banning lawmakers from trading stocks.

USA Today also reported that an early showdown is likely over the war in Iran, with Democrats possibly directing President Donald Trump to seek congressional authorization to continue the conflict or pulling funding to end it. Trump will also have a harder time installing Cabinet and judicial nominees, including for another potential Supreme Court vacancy, should one arise, USA Today reported.

Trump told Fox News late Tuesday night that he would not shy away from using presidential vetoes to block measures advanced by Democrats, according to Realtor.com. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who won reelection in Louisiana, said Americans would “suffer” if Democrats use control of Congress to enact “retribution” over the next two years, Realtor.com reported.

One Senate race remained uncalled as the projections were reported: the competitive Michigan race, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed was leading Republican Mike Rodgers by less than a percentage point as of 12:30 a.m. on November 4, according to USA Today. Democrats had already been projected to win control of the House earlier on election night.

Reporting based on coverage by USA Today and Realtor.com.