US Midterm Vote Count Begins With No Races Called and Control of Congress in the Balance

Votes are now being counted across the country, and no races have been called yet. The outcome will decide who controls Congress for the rest of President Donald Trump’s second term. Both chambers are within reach for Democrats, though the path looks different in each.

House Control Race

Republicans currently hold 218 seats and Democrats 212, and 218 is the number needed for a majority. Democrats must flip enough Republican districts to pass that line, which puts the competitive contests in the spotlight as results arrive.

Senate Control Battle

In the Senate, Democrats need a net gain of three seats to take control, so every close state matters. The party must hold all of its own seats while winning several in Republican territory.

Texas is drawing heavy attention, where Republican Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico after Paxton beat Sen. John Cornyn in the primary runoff. In Maine, one Fox poll has the Senate race tied at 49%, making it one of the closest contests on the map.