Republicans have retaken the US Senate, achieving what was announced in advance as the most achievable goal for the party in this year’s elections.
The Republican Party regained control after it became clear that Democrats had lost their one-seat majority in the 100-member upper chamber of Congress.
Republicans gained two seats in the Senate, while Trump-backed businessman Bernie Moreno defeated three-term Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio, and Trump loyalist Jim Justice won the seat once held by Joe Manchin in West Virginia.
Republican incumbents also battled Democratic challengers in Texas, where Ted Cruz defeated Collin Allred, and in Florida, where Rick Scott won over Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
In Nebraska, union organizer Dan Osborn launched a surprisingly successful independent campaign to oust Republican incumbent Deb Fisher. But Fisher ultimately held on to her seat.
Shortly after midnight ET, several competitive Senate races were still uncalled, giving Republicans a chance to increase the margin of their majority by a few more seats.
The result puts the Republican Party in pole position in the confirmation process for senior officials appointed by the new incoming administration, and for potential new justices on the U.S. Supreme Court if and when vacancies open up.
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At least two veteran conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, are expected to retire in the coming years, while speculation has surrounded the health and intentions of a third, Sonia Sotomayor, one of the court’s three liberal justices.
The transfer of control of the Senate to the Republicans will also spice up the race to succeed Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the House, who had announced he would retire after the election.
The leading contenders to replace him are John Thune of South Dakota, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Rick Scott of Florida, with the winner poised to take on the powerful position of Senate majority leader.
Cornyn launched his leadership bid just moments after Republicans won their Senate majority, according to the Associated Press, with a statement touting his experience working with Republican members and as the Republican Party’s vote counter during the first Trump administration.
“Like I said, this election is not about us, it’s about what’s best for the conference and the nation,” the Texas Republican said. “I look forward to working with President Trump and our new conservative majority to Make America Great Again by making the Senate work again.”
The leadership election will take place by secret ballot at the end of November.
The Republican victory was widely anticipated, as the party needed to gain just one net seat to regain control if Donald Trump were to retake the White House, because – constitutionally – the vice president gets the casting vote if the two parties bound.
But Democrats also faced an unfavorable election schedule, with several incumbents in Republican strongholds retiring or facing re-election — meaning that losing control of the Senate was highly likely even if Kamala Harris were to become president. are chosen.
The retirement of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a former centrist Democrat who had recently become an independent, was the clearest signal that Republicans were on a winning path. As expected, the seat he vacated was won by the state’s Republican governor, Jim Justice, who triumphed over his Democratic opponent, Glenn Elliott, the mayor of Wheeling.
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