Republicans clinch Senate control with key flips

Republicans are projected to clinch power of nan Senate aft flipping astatine slightest 2 cardinal states and successfully protecting their incumbents.

Republican Gov. Jim Justice took nan spot vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin, nan West Virginia independent who caucuses pinch Democrats. And businessman Bernie Moreno, nan Ohio GOP Senate nominee, unseated three-term Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, and Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz 2 lawmakers successful red-leaning states who were Democrats' champion pickoff opportunities, are besides projected to triumph reelection, while Nebraska GOP Sen. Deb Fischer was projected to hit an independent challenger.

With Democrats presently holding a 51-49 mostly successful nan Senate, these wins will now astatine slightest present a 51-seat mostly for Republicans, barring immoderate upsets. Republicans besides person a premier opportunity to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Tester successful deep-red Montana, though nan results of that title person not yet been projected by ABC News.

Ohio Republican Senate campaigner Bernie Moreno speaks during a watch statement connected predetermination night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, successful Westlake, Ohio.

Sue Ogrocki/AP

Maintaining power of nan Senate was ever going to beryllium a daunting task for Democrats, who entered nan 2024 predetermination rhythm pinch a sadistic map.

Democrats were defending seats successful Montana and Ohio, 2 reddish states, arsenic good arsenic a slate of purple states, including Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The GOP-held seats successful Florida and Texas were their champion flip opportunities, though Democratic nominees location faced headwinds owed to nan thin of nan states and erstwhile President Donald Trump's spot there.

It remains to beryllium seen precisely really large Republicans' separator will beryllium -- nary of nan purple authorities races person yet been called. But Republicans were emotion bullish heading into nan early greeting hours Wednesday.

"Look, coming starts a caller wave. You know, we talked astir wanting a reddish wave. I deliberation what we person coming is simply a red, achromatic and bluish activity successful this country," Moreno proclaimed successful his triumph speech.

While wide expected successful Washington, Republicans' occurrence marks a vindication of nan GOP's strategy heading into nan 2024 predetermination cycle.

Still smarting from a disappointing 2022 midterm rhythm that saw Democrats defy nan likelihood and grow their Senate mostly by 1 seat, Republicans this clip astir were heavy progressive successful respective Senate primaries, trying to elevate candidates they viewed arsenic nan astir electable (they did not, notably, play successful Ohio).

On nan different hand, nan results are a terrible disappointment for Democrats, who had appeared optimistic successful nan race's location stretch.

Texas was online, they had insisted, and Florida remained attainable, if a reach. And independent Dan Osborn successful Nebraska was giving Fischer a tally for her money.

Cruz and Scott coasted, and while Osborn did extremity up moving a competitory race, he couldn't withstand nan nationalist headwinds successful a authorities wherever Trump romped.

Republicans will prehend nan enclosure astatine a clip erstwhile longtime GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is stepping down from his domiciled starring nan convention (he'll still service successful nan Senate). Republicans will return a ballot adjacent week to sanction a replacement, pinch nan conflict mostly centered astir South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Texas Sen. John Cornyn. Scott is besides running, though he is viewed arsenic a longshot.

Should Trump triumph different word successful nan Oval Office, a Republican Senate will beryllium cardinal to approving judicial and management nominees, though nan 60-vote filibuster remains a imaginable obstacle successful passing legislation, perchance forcing practice pinch Democrats connected must-pass bills for illustration connected authorities backing and elevating nan voices of Republican moderates for illustration Sens. Susan Collins, Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, Alaska.

Democrats are apt to swiftly spell connected discourtesy heading into nan 2026 midterms, targeting seats successful Maine and North Carolina, though they'll besides person to play defense successful Georgia and Michigan.