Washington, Nov. 6, (dpa/GNA) – Republicans have secured a majority in the US Senate, US broadcasters reported on Wednesday, after flipping seats in Ohio and West Virginia.
Republicans also kept hold of their seat in Nebraska, with incumbent Debra Fisher winning yet another term. She has been in office since 2013.
With these results, the Republicans have secured a majority of at least 51 seats in the 100-seat chamber, according to CNN, NBC and Fox News.
Senate watchers are still eyeing the Montana race, where Democratic incumbent Jon Tester, a Montana native, has been consistently lower in the polls than his Republican rival, Minnesota-born Tim Sheehy. Tester’s campaign was largely based on his Montana roots and portrayed Sheehy as a wealthy out-of-stater who is making Montana less affordable.
In most of the other states the parties maintained their positions, either by electing an incumbent or replacing an outgoing senator with another party candidate.
Some commentators are predicting that the Republicans could end up with as much as a 55-seat majority in the Senate, in which each state – regardless of size – send two senators to Washington.
Meanwhile, the result of the election to the 435-seat House of Representatives was still unclear with neither party yet achieving the 218-seat majority to control the lower chamber of the US Congress.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and around one-third of the 100 seats in the Senate were up for election. The party controlling the US Congress can significantly affect a president’s scope of action.
Currently, the Republicans hold the majority in the House of Representatives with 220 to 212 seats.
With the newly won Republican majority in the US Senate, Donald Trump might have more leeway for his initiatives once he is confirmed the winner of the US presidential election as expected.
The Democrats of Trump’s opponent Kamala Harris could only form a counterbalance if they manage to reclaim the House of Representatives. If the Republicans retain control over the lower chamber, Trump can push through his agenda.
With the Senate majority, the Republicans could further expand the conservative majority in the Supreme Court, which will shape the United States for decades. Justices at the Supreme Court are appointed for life.
GNA