Democrats Win Senate and House in Midterm Sweep, Networks Project

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, ending unified Republican control of Washington for the last two years of President Donald Trump’s term, according to projections by NBC News, CBS News, CNBC and the Associated Press (via PBS News). Voters were reacting to high prices, the war in Iran and concerns about government corruption, the AP said.

In the Senate, NBC projects a 54-44 Democratic majority with two races, Mississippi and Alaska, still uncalled, a net gain of seven seats. CBS and CNBC each say Democrats have won at least 54. The AP, via PBS, listed Democratic flips from Republicans in Texas (James Talarico over Ken Paxton), Ohio (Sherrod Brown over Sen. Jon Husted), Iowa (Josh Turek over Rep. Ashley Hinson), Kansas (Adam Hamilton over Sen. Roger Marshall), North Carolina (Roy Cooper, for an open seat) and South Carolina (Annie Andrews). NBC and CNBC also project Troy Jackson winning in Maine over Sen. Susan Collins.

Democrats held Georgia, where Sen. Jon Ossoff won re-election over Rep. Mike Collins, New Hampshire, where Chris Pappas won the open seat, and Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed beat Mike Rogers to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters. Peggy Flanagan won in Minnesota. Republicans held Nebraska, where Sen. Pete Ricketts beat independent Dan Osborn, according to NBC and CNBC.

In the House, NBC projects Democrats will control the chamber, with 249 seats called for them to 157 for Republicans and 29 races uncalled as of Thursday evening; 218 is a majority. NBC’s Decision Desk estimates Democrats will end up with at least 259 seats. CBS estimates they are on pace for 256, up from the 214 they held, and CNBC projects at least 250. The outlets’ ranges differ because of uncalled races. CBS counted more than 40 Republican-held seats that flipped, among them Rep. Mike Lawler’s New York district and North Carolina’s 9th, where National Republican Congressional Committee chair Rep. Richard Hudson lost to Richard Ojeda and, CNBC reported, called to congratulate him.

The two remaining Senate races, Mississippi and Alaska, cannot change which party controls the chamber. Mississippi, where Democrat Scott Colom leads Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by under 2,000 votes, and Alaska, where Democrat Mary Peltola and Sen. Dan Sullivan are close, are covered separately.

The AP said Trump has promised to use his veto against the Democratic agenda, and it expects the result to limit his ability to advance his agenda, including a push for a more conservative Supreme Court. CNBC reported Trump said he can work with Democrats on ‘many more things than people understand.’ Republican leaders are arguing over blame, and House Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek to lead the Republican minority, according to CBS and CNBC. Both parties’ leaders are positioning for the new Congress, which is seated in January.