Democrats made a major push on election night, winning back the Senate even as several races remained undecided.
Their victory ends Republicans’ nearly two-year hold on the federal government. The shift will take effect in January, when the 120th Congress convenes.
Democrats made gains in states that have strongly backed President Donald Trump, defeating several candidates he had endorsed. Some of those races had looked difficult for Democrats until the final weeks of the campaign.
The gains began in Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff comfortably defeated Republican Rep. Mike Collins. Democrats also scored wins in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kansas, Iowa and Texas. In Texas, James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton in a landmark result for the state.
“We just took back Texas,” Talarico told supporters Tuesday night.
By early Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had secured at least five Democratic pickups, wiping out the Republicans’ narrow 53-seat majority.
Results were still pending in Michigan, Minnesota and Alaska. Democrats could lose all three and still take control of the Senate.
With Democrats also holding a majority in the House, Trump’s legislative agenda is likely to face a steep road ahead.
Republicans were already pointing fingers as the election results came in. Trump, the quality of candidates in close races and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who leads the party’s Senate campaign operation, all faced criticism.
“When the NRSC chairman loses his home state of South Carolina…” one Republican operative told Fox News Digital.
It was not yet clear whether Schumer would remain the leader of Senate Democrats. Several incoming senators have declined to endorse him, with some arguing the caucus needs a new generation of leadership.
