Republicans have secured control of the U.S. Senate and are now trying to maintain their slim majority in the House of Representatives, potentially giving President-elect Donald Trump unified party control of Congress when he returns to office in 2025.
The GOP clinched their Senate majority with decisive victories in West Virginia, Montana, and Ohio. Republican Tim Sheehy defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester in Montana, while Bernie Moreno unseated three-term Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio. In West Virginia, Republican Governor Jim Justice won the seat previously held by Joe Manchin.
In the House of Rep, while many races remain uncalled, Republicans are expressing confidence in maintaining their majority. Speaker Mike Johnson cited crucial Republican victories in swing states including Pennsylvania and Michigan. “House Republicans have been successful in securing critical flips in swing states,” Johnson said from West Palm Beach, Florida. “The latest data and trends indicate that when all the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority.”
Democrats have achieved some notable victories, including holding open seats in Virginia and Michigan, and gaining seats in Alabama and Louisiana due to redistricting. However, according to CNN, an unnamed Democratic source privately informed the news outlet that there’s a small chance of the party gaining control of the House.
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remained cautiously optimistic, stating, “The House remains very much in play.” He highlighted potential opportunities to gain seats in Arizona, Oregon, and Iowa, as well as in several districts in California that tend to lean Democratic.
If Republicans maintain control of both chambers, they would be positioned to advance Trump’s agenda, including his proposed tax cuts and immigration restrictions. NBC News has reported that the House of Rep Democrats have scheduled a virtual meeting to strategize their path forward, while final results in several key races, particularly in California and New York, may take days or weeks to determine.