124 million votes cast as Democrats flip 7 Senate seats in midterms
Turnout surpassed 2018 records, and President Trump signaled a willingness to negotiate while maintaining his veto power.
By Meera Fletcher ·
Democrats secured majorities in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, claiming control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. As of Wednesday morning, the party had flipped seven Senate seats and dozens of districts in the lower chamber that were previously held by Republicans. These gains included victories in traditionally Republican areas, such as Texas and South Carolina.
Races in Mississippi and Alaska remained too close to call on Wednesday. The new Democratic leadership will take office in January, which will allow opponents of President Trump to conduct investigations, challenge legislative priorities, and block executive nominations.
The University of Florida Election Lab reported that more than 124 million ballots were cast. That number exceeds the previous midterm record of nearly 119 million votes cast in 2018. Counting was still underway as of Wednesday.
President Trump sent mixed signals during the night following the election. In an interview with Fox News, he congratulated the Democratic party for its hard work. In a separate phone interview with Politico, he argued that Republican voters struggled to turn out because he was not on the ballot. He also shared an image of a red hat with the word VETO on it, emphasizing his authority to reject laws passed by the new Congress.
Despite the shift in power, the president expressed a willingness to work with Democrats to reach agreements. This stance leaves room for potential legislation despite the expected partisan conflicts in the coming months.
Democratic leaders must now select new party leadership. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York currently hold leadership roles in the Senate and House, respectively. Both require the support of their colleagues to retain those positions.
If Representative Jeffries wins a vote from the full House when the new Congress convenes on January 3, he will become the first Black speaker in U.S. history. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed Jeffries and praised his leadership following the victory.
