WASHINGTON — Democrats won control of the U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, the Associated Press projected, ending Republican control of the chamber and giving Democrats a greater say over President Donald Trump’s agenda in his final two years in office.
Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to take the 100-seat chamber. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton. Former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown beat Republican incumbent Jon Husted, while former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley for an open seat. Democrats also picked up seats in Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina.
The Senate majority will give Democrats control of key committees, allowing them to set hearing schedules and pursue investigations into the administration. It will also give them the power to block Trump’s nominees for federal judgeships and senior government posts.
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Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said voters had chosen change. Trump played down the losses in a Fox News interview, saying voters “didn’t like the candidates.” The AP’s voter survey found that most voters blamed the administration for high costs and wanted Congress to place more checks on the president.
Democrats also gained ground in the House of Representatives. CNN and NBC News projected that the party would take control of the chamber, while the Associated Press had yet to call a House majority as counting continued.
