Democrats take both chambers of US Congress

In the Senate, Democrats won six previously Republican-held seats, including in Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa and Kansas, according to Bénin Web TV, citing Associated Press projections. James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in Texas, Annie Andrews prevailed in South Carolina, Roy Cooper in North Carolina and Sherrod Brown defeated Jon Husted in Ohio. Josh Turek and Adam Hamilton won the Iowa and Kansas contests.

Before the vote, Republicans held 53 of the 100 seats, compared with 47 for Democrats and independents who caucus with them. A net gain of at least four seats was needed to reach a majority, because of the vice-president’s casting vote in the event of a tie. Bénin Web TV said the final number of seats had yet to be established. Democrats also retained seats in Georgia and New Hampshire.

This majority will allow Democrats to control the Senate’s legislative timetable, its committees and the confirmation of judicial and diplomatic appointments. Donald Trump will retain his veto power. At the House, ABC News and CBS News are also projecting a Democratic majority, while the Associated Press had not yet called the chamber in its latest roundup, Bénin Web TV reports. Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become speaker of the House and has promised to hold to account officials whom he accuses of « unprecedented corruption », according to L’essentiel. Trump, for his part, acknowledged to Fox News that the war in Iran had contributed « in part » to the Republican defeat and said Democrats had « done a good job » and had « fought well ».