Washington (Web Desk/Agencies): On Tuesday evening, the Republican Party regained control of the U.S. Senate, claiming critical victories in West Virginia, Ohio, and an unexpected win in Nebraska. This marks the first time in four years that Republicans will hold a majority in the Senate.
Incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer triumphed over an unexpectedly strong challenge from independent candidate Dan Osborn, defying projections that suggested a closer race.
As returns continued to come in, Democrats saw their hopes of holding on to their slim majority fade.
In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno was projected by multiple media outlets to defeat Democrat Sherrod Brown, the incumbent senator.
With these victories, Republicans are assured at least a 51-49 majority in the Senate, with the potential for further gains as results from other tight races continue to be counted.
In addition to the Senate, Republicans also made notable strides in the battle for the House of Representatives, where they currently hold a narrow majority of 220-212.
They picked up three seats in North Carolina, thanks to redistricting efforts that favored their party. Meanwhile, Democrats were able to flip a Republican-held seat in Alabama, which had been redrawn in accordance with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that required the creation of a Black majority district.
Democrats now face a tough road to regain control of the House, needing to flip at least six seats. However, with fewer than 40 races deemed truly competitive, the outcome will likely hinge on a small number of battleground districts.
Looking ahead, Republicans are eyeing further opportunities to grow their Senate majority, particularly in Montana, where Democrat Jon Tester is facing a challenging re-election campaign, and in several contested states in the Midwest.
However, despite these potential gains, Republicans are unlikely to reach the 60-vote threshold required to overcome procedural hurdles and pass major legislation in the Senate.
