Senate’s fate unclear as Dems’ push falls short
Key races undecided; Georgia to have runoff
WASHINGTON – Democrats had a disappointing night Tuesday in the battle for Senate control, but it was too soon for Republicans to take a victory lap Wednesday, although they brushed back multiple challengers to protect their teetering majority.
Key races in North Carolina and Michigan remained undecided, and at least one in Georgia was headed to a January runoff.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that President Donald Trump’s campaign helped his GOP allies, but it’s still too soon to declare victory as state election officials continue to count ballots.
“We’re waiting – whether I’m going to be the majority leader or not,” McConnell said.
McConnell secured a seventh term in a costly campaign in Kentucky, fending off Democrat Amy McGrath.
Election night delivered a jarring outcome for Democrats who had devised an expanded political map, eager to counter Trump and his party’s grip on the Senate.
While Democrats picked up seats in Colorado and Arizona, they suffered a setback in Alabama, and Republicans held their own in one race after another: in South Carolina, Iowa, Texas, Kansas and Montana, limiting Democrats’ hopes to make inroads.
Securing the Senate majority will be
vital for the winner of the presidency.
The Democrats’ gains were in Colorado and Arizona, where former astronaut Mark Kelly beat GOP incumbent Martha McSally. But they couldn’t hold on in Alabama: Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville defeated Sen. Doug Jones.
Several battlegrounds broke for Republicans.
In South Carolina, White House ally Sen Lindsey Graham survived the race of his career against Harrison; in Texas, Sen. John Cornyn turned back MJ Hegar; in Iowa, Sen. Joni Ernst defeated Democrat Theresa Greenfield in a race seen as a toss-up.
In Montana, Sen. Steve Daines routed Gov. Steve Bullock; and in Kansas, Rep. Roger Marshall prevailed over state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a former Republi
can who energized Democrats in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.
The final breakdown awaited the outcome of races in Alaska, Michigan and North Carolina.
North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis has struggled against Democrat Cal Cunningham, despite the married challenger’s sexting scandal with a public-relations strategist.
Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine won the hardest-fought race of her career, turning back a challenge by Democrat Sara Gideon and winning a narrow majority in the costliest political race in state history.
In Georgia, two seats were being contested and at least one is headed to a runoff after no candidate reached the 50% threshold to win.