Republicans projected to retake control of US Senate

Republicans are expected to have regained control of the US Senate by winning Senate seats in West Virginia and Ohio.

The anticipated outcome shifts the Senate to a 51-49 majority for the Republicans.

Jim Justice, who is the sitting governor of West Virginia, is expected to take over the seat left empty by former Democrat Joe Manchin. Meanwhile, in Ohio, Bernie Moreno has replaced Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown.

In the House of Representatives, the Republicans are currently in the lead, although there are still a number of races that have not yet been determined.

If the Republican Party holds power in the House, Senate, and the White House, it would have significant authority to create legislation and implement the president's partisan goals.

The last time Republicans held a majority in the Senate was in 2018.

In Ohio, Brown was expected to be defeated by Moreno, a Colombian immigrant and ex-car dealership tycoon who depicted the experienced politician as being "too liberal for the state."

The competition was referred to as the priciest Senate election in the history of the United States.

Brown shared with his supporters that while the outcome was disappointing, it was not a defeat. He emphasized, "I remain committed to advocating for employees, and I trust that you will continue to stand with me."

The West Virginia seat is expected to change hands to the Republican Party. This shift follows the retirement of Manchin, who often had disagreements with his fellow party members before becoming an independent.

Justice was previously a member of the Democratic Party before he changed his affiliation to Republican during a Trump rally in 2017.

On Tuesday, there were 34 Senate seats up for grabs.

In Texas, Ted Cruz, a supporter of Trump, successfully overcame a strong challenge from former NFL player Colin Allred to secure his third term in office.

Democrats made a united push to defeat Cruz, yet the party hasn't triumphed in a statewide election in Texas for over three decades.

Republicans successfully held onto Nebraska's seat with incumbent Deb Fischer, despite a surprisingly strong challenge from auto mechanic Dan Osborn, who is an independent voter.

The outcome of the Senate election quickly sparked conversations about who might take over as Senate Majority Leader in the upcoming legislative session, stepping in for Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell.

At the beginning of the year, McConnell, who is 82 years old, declared his intention to resign from his influential position.

Rick Scott, a Republican who is currently serving as Florida's senator, successfully held onto his position even after facing a challenge from Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a Democratic candidate and former representative from the Miami area who immigrated from Ecuador as a child.

During a celebration rally on Tuesday evening, Scott accurately forecasted that the Republicans would gain control of the Senate. He also mentioned that he would be chosen as the Senate Majority Leader.

"Florida is at the heart of the Republican Party in this nation," he addressed the audience. "There’s a lot that Washington could take away from the successes we've achieved right here in this incredible state."

Democrats maintained their position in Delaware, a state where President Joe Biden served as a senator for 36 years, thanks to the win by Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, who was re-elected for her fourth term.

In Maryland, the Democrats held onto a seat that was left open by Ben Cardin, as Angela Alsobrooks triumphed over the well-known Republican Governor Larry Hogan.

They will be the first Black women to serve as senators from their states.

In New Jersey, Democrats managed to hold onto a seat that was left open by Bob Menendez, who stepped down after being convicted of taking bribes in exchange for political favors. Andy Kim, 42, will make history as the first Korean-American senator.

In California, Representative Adam Schiff, who spearheaded the initial impeachment inquiry into Trump, successfully kept the position that was once occupied by the late Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein.

There were additional elections happening in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Montana, Michigan, Nevada, Nebraska, and Wisconsin that had the potential to change the balance of power in the Senate.

Both parties are competing for control of the House, but the results and overall power dynamics won't be clear for a few days.

Most House elections take place in "safe districts," where one party is almost guaranteed to win. However, a few races in competitive districts could play a crucial role in deciding which party will dominate in Washington DC.

Key house races that could influence the overall outcome are happening in several states, with significant elections being monitored in California, New York, Washington, Maine, and Alaska.

North America reporter Anthony Zurcher breaks down the competition for the White House in his bi-weekly newsletter, US Election Unspun. Readers in the UK can subscribe here, while those located outside the UK can sign up here.