Republicans keep the Senate; now comes the hard part

WASHINGTON – Republicans cemented their hold on the Senate Tuesday night for another two years, ensuring President Donald Trump will have a built-in army of allies to advance his agenda, confirm his judges and defend his office.

But the GOP triumph also means Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell of Kentucky will have many of the same challenges that have dogged him in the current Congress.

By 10:45 p.m., Republicans had secured 50 seats, giving them a majority because Vice President Mike Pence breaks ties. Republicans beat two Democratic incumbents: Businessman Mike Braun beat Sen. Joe Donnelly in Indiana, and Rep. Kevin Cramer beat Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota.

Candidates Trump campaigned for in the final days before the midterms – Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-tenn., and incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, R-texas – prevailed.

“In a year when Republicans faced stiff political headwinds, an avalanche of liberal political spending and the historic midterm election disadvantage, our successful defense of the Republican Senate majority was a crucial accomplishment,” said Steven Law, president of the Senate Leadership Fund, a Mcconnell-aligned political action committee which spent $123.4 million this cycle.

Mcconnell is currently presiding over a Senate with 51 Republicans.

Next year, he’ll still have to rely on a largely uncooperative Democratic minority, since it usually takes 60 votes to advance major legislation. He’ll also still be working alongside a president whose volatility makes it hard for Republicans to stay on message.