Republicans take back Senate majority with wins in West Virginia, Ohio

Republicans were projected to regain nan Senate aft 4 years retired of powerfulness precocious Tuesday, condemning Chuck Schumer to astatine slightest 2 years arsenic number leader.

The precocious enclosure flip began pinch West Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice winning nan spot held by outgoing Democrat-turned-independent Joe Manchin, who announced successful November 2023 he would not activity re-election.

In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown’s bid for a 4th word was projected to extremity astatine nan hands of Trump-endorsed GOP businessman Bernie Moreno.

Another three-term Democrat, Sen. Jon Tester, trailed Republican Tim Sheehy by 16 percent points arsenic of midnight Wednesday.

Republican Senate candidates besides had important leads successful nan “Blue Wall” states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — results which could nett nan GOP up to 55 seats if they each hold.

Meanwhile, 2 of nan astir salient Republican incumbents — Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida — were projected to comfortably triumph their races. A third, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, was pulling distant from Democrat-leaning independent Dan Osborn early Wednesday.

Democrats were ever underdogs to support powerfulness successful nan Senate, having to take sides 23 of nan 34 seats up for grabs Tuesday.

That task sewage moreover tougher erstwhile nan 77-year-old Manchin, a uncommon Democrat-aligned independent from a deep-red state, declined Schumer’s reported plea to reconsider his determination to exit nan Senate and look Mountain State voters 1 much time.

The first bid of business for Republicans is to elite a caller convention leader, pinch Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) bringing a adjacent to his 17-year reign later this month.

A spirited title is underway betwixt nan existent Senate GOP No. 2, Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD); his predecessor successful that role, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas); and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.).

All 3 men person been jockeying down nan scenes for months, seeking to summation an separator pinch members. Scott antecedently challenged McConnell, unsuccessfully, pursuing nan disappointing 2022 midterm elections.

Although Republicans are now poised to return complaint successful nan Senate erstwhile nan caller Congress is sworn successful connected Jan. 3, 2025, their newfound powerfulness will beryllium constricted because they deficiency a filibuster-proof supermajority to reliably flooded nan 60-vote period needed to extremity statement connected legislation.

The past clip either statement had a filibuster-proof mostly was successful early 2010 erstwhile Democrats had 60 seats successful nan Senate. Republicans came closest to matching that consequence erstwhile they had 59 of nan Senate’s 96 seats pursuing nan 1920 elections.

Heading into nan 2024 cycle, GOP brass starting pinch National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines (R-Mont.) put accent connected campaigner quality, fretting that lackluster contenders costs nan statement opportunities successful nan 2022 cycle.

That paid disconnected successful Daines’ location authorities of Montana, wherever he reportedly pleaded pinch Trump to endorse Sheehy complete Rep. Matt Rosendale successful nan Republican superior to look Tester.

Democrats will person nan inaugural successful 2026, pinch Republicans defending astatine slightest 19 of nan 33 seats up for grabs.

Among nan GOP incumbents expected to look reliable races are Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

Cornyn, nan imaginable caller Senate GOP leader, will besides beryllium up for re-election that year.