U. S. Senate l osses
Democrats, who had been favoured to win the Senate majority heading into Tuesday’s election, had a net gain of only one seat to show by Wednesday afternoon. Securing the Senate majority is hugely important for the winner of the presidency. It confirms administration nominees, including the Cabinet, and can propel or stall the White House agenda. In the event of the chamber ending up tied 50-50 the vice-president has a casting vote. Here are some notable losses in the Senate races.
TEXAS
The state became a surprise battleground in this year’s presidential race. A challenge from Democrat M. J. Hegar could not take down veteran Republican Senator John Cornyn despite his vulnerability. Texas, once a Republican stronghold, has grown increasingly competitive as the population has grown more diverse and Trump’s polarizing presidency has alienated suburban women.
ARIZONA
Republican Senator Martha Mcsally failed to hold off Democratic former astronaut Mark Kelly. Mcsally, a former U. S. representative and U.S. Air Force combat pilot, was appointed to the seat once held by John Mccain after losing her 2018 Senate bid to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.
COLORADO
Incumbent Republican Senator Cory Gardner could not hold off Democratic challenger John Hickenlooper. Gardner, a former U. S. representative who entered the Senate for the first time in 2015, was a vulnerable Senate Republican partly because of his allegiance to Trump in a state that has gone Democratic in the past three presidential elections. Hickenlooper, a former twoterm governor and 2020 presidential hopeful, said record voter turnout showed voters were fed up with the bitter polarization in Washington.
MONTANA
Two-term Governor Steve Bullock, a former presidential candidate who branded himself as an independent-minded Democrat, could not hold off Republican Senator Steve Daines. Daines, a former congressman and software executive, is known as a reliable conservative and has touted his ties to Trump.
KENTUCKY
A former Marine fighter pilot, Democrat Amy McGrath’s 37.8 per cent result could not best veteran Senate majority leader Mitch Mcconnell’s 58.2 per cent. As for a Senate majority, McConnell said Trump’s campaign helped his Republican allies, but it was still too soon to declare full victory. He said: “We’re waiting to see whether I’m going to be the majority leader or not.” He told reporters in his home state that “overall, we had a better election than most people thought across the country.”