Republicans have regained control of the U.S. Senate, ending four years in the minority, according to early projections from U.S. media. This critical shift could enable sweeping changes, particularly if Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, secures the White House.
The Senate takeover is seen as a boost for the Republican agenda. If Trump wins the presidency, he would have support for enacting policies and appointing conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, a Democratic win with Vice President Kamala Harris would likely result in legislative gridlock.
Republicans made significant gains with Jim Justice winning the West Virginia Senate race, replacing moderate independent Joe Manchin. In Ohio, Trump-endorsed businessman Bernie Moreno unseated Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown, while Republican Senator Deb Fischer successfully defended her seat in Nebraska.
“I look forward to working with President Trump and our new conservative majority to make America great again by making the Senate work again,” said Texas Senator John Cornyn, a potential candidate for Republican Senate leadership.
With Republicans now holding 51 seats, they have the opportunity to further expand their majority with potential wins in Montana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. If the party secures all toss-up races, they could command a 55-seat majority, giving them the leverage to drive Trump’s policy agenda and judicial appointments, should he prevail.
In a historic moment, Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester became the first two Black women elected to the Senate simultaneously, representing Maryland and Delaware respectively. They join Vice President Kamala Harris as part of a small group of Black women to have served in the Senate.
The 2024 congressional election has also seen Sarah McBride become the first openly transgender individual elected to Congress, winning a House seat in Delaware.
According to OpenSecrets, over $10 billion was spent on congressional races this cycle, nearly double the $5.5 billion spent on the presidential race. While the Senate gains power to approve treaties and key appointments, control of the House, where all budget-related bills originate, remains undecided and could take days to confirm.