Democrats retain control of U.S. Senate
Republican ‘red wave’ hopes crushed
PHOENIX • Democrats held on to control of the U.S. Senate while limiting projected losses in the House, handing a major victory to President Joe Biden and extinguishing hopes of the “red wave” that Republicans had expected leading into the midterm elections.
Biden, who struggled with low approval ratings ahead of last Tuesday’s elections, partly due to public frustration over inflation, said the late Saturday outcome made him look forward to the remainder of his term in office.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described it as a “victory and vindication” for Democrats and their agenda. He accused the Republican Party of stoking fear and division during the campaign.
Republicans, however, remained close to seizing control of the House of Representatives as officials continued counting ballots.
It could take several days or more before the outcome of enough House races is known to determine which party will control the 435-seat chamber. Returns were still flowing in for several races, including many in liberal-leaning California.
As of late on Saturday, Republicans had won 211 seats and the Democrats 205, with 218 needed for a majority.
“The American people rejected the anti-democratic, authoritarian, nasty and divisive direction the MAGA Republicans wanted to take our country,” Schumer said after Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s re-election win in Nevada sealed control of the chamber for Biden’s Democrats.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 82, told ABC News and CNN that she would not make any announcements about whether she planned to remain in House leadership until after control of the chamber was decided.
There had been speculation she would resign if Democrats lost the majority, especially after her husband was attacked by an intruder at their San Francisco home last month.
“We’re focusing now on Georgia. We feel good about where we are,” Biden said on Sunday in Cambodia ahead of an East Asia summit. “I am incredibly pleased by the turnout.”
Hovering over the 2022 midterm elections all year has been former president Donald Trump, who used his continued popularity among conservatives to influence the candidates the Republican Party nominated for congressional, gubernatorial and local races.
With the Republicans’ lacklustre performance — even if they win a narrow majority in the House — Trump has been blamed for boosting candidates who were unable to appeal to a broad enough electorate.
A Republican loss in Georgia, where a run-off election for Senate is to be held on Dec. 6, could further dampen Trump’s popularity.