DEMOCRATS RETAKE HOUSE AND SEIZE SENATE MAJORITY AFTER FLIPPING FIVE GOP SEATS IN MIDTERMS
WASHINGTON – Democrats have retaken the House and flipped five Republican Senate seats in Tuesday’s midterms, enough to take control of both chambers in a rebuke to President Donald Trump.
By 11 p.m. Eastern Time, projections showed Democrats winning the 218 seats needed for the House.
In the Senate, where Republicans entered with a 53-47 majority, Democrats flipped Texas where James Talarico beat Ken Paxton, North Carolina where Roy Cooper beat Michael Whatley, South Carolina, Kansas and Ohio, the seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance
Several races that will determine the final Senate margin – Alaska, Iowa, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota – were still too early to call because western polls closed late and counting is below 50 percent.
Alaska’s ranked-choice count may take more than a week, and any race under 0.5 percent goes to a recount. States certify between November 16 and December 8.
With the five flips, Democrats are on track for 52 to 53 Senate seats, enough to overcome Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaker vote in a 50-50 Senate.