US Senate up for grabs

REPUBLICANS edged closer yesterday to securing a majority in the US House of Representatives while control of the Senate hinged on a few tight races, two days after Democrats staved off an anticipated “red wave” of Republican gains in midterm elections.

Republicans have captured at least 210 House seats, Edison Research projected, eight short of the 218 needed to wrest the House away from Democrats and effectively halt US President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda.

While Republicans remain favoured, there were 33 House contests yet to be decided – including 21 of the 53 most competitive races, based on a Reuters analysis. The fate of the Senate was far less certain. Either party could seize control by winning too-closeto-call races in Nevada and Arizona, where officials are tallying thousands of uncounted ballots.

The party in power historically suffers heavy casualties in a president’s first midterm election and Tuesday’s results suggested voters were punishing Biden for the steepest inflation in 40 years. But Democrats were holding on in the close Senate battles in Nevada and Arizona. A split in the Senate vote would mean the majority would come down to a run-off election in Georgia for the second time in two years.

Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker both failed to reach 50% on Tuesday, forcing them into a one-on-one battle on December 6.

Even a slim House majority would allow Republicans to shape the rest of Biden’s term, blocking abortion rights and launching investigations into his administration and family. Republicans are expected to demand spending cuts in exchange for raising the nation’s borrowing limit next year. Control of the Senate would give them the power to block Biden’s nominees for judicial and administrative posts.

Thousands of votes are uncounted in Arizona and Nevada.