Democrats seize Congress control

Alaska residents will see new faces in Washington when the new Congress convenes on January 3. Democrats have taken control of both the House and the Senate following Tuesday’s midterm elections. The party secured majorities in both chambers by flipping seats in states previously held by Republicans.

As of Wednesday morning, Democrats flipped seven Senate seats and dozens of House districts. 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 set in 2018. Counts were still underway in several states when the numbers were released.

Two Senate races remained too close to call on Wednesday: one in Mississippi and one in Alaska. The Alaska contest matters directly to local voters because the winner will represent the state in the upper chamber for the next two years. The new Democratic majorities will begin their terms in January. This shift gives opponents of the Trump administration greater power to investigate the executive branch and challenge legislative proposals.

President Trump offered mixed reactions to the results. In an interview with Fox News, he congratulated Democrats for their effort. He told Politico that Republican turnout suffered because he was not on the ballot. The president also posted an image of a red hat with the word “VETO” on it. The post signaled his intent to use his veto power against laws passed by the new Congress, though he also said he was willing to negotiate.

Democrats must still vote on who will lead the party in each chamber. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York currently leads the Senate Democrats. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York leads the House Democrats. Both leaders must win support from their colleagues to keep their roles. Jeffries faces an additional hurdle in the House. He must win a vote from the full chamber to become speaker.

If elected, Jeffries would become the first Black speaker in U.S. history. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Jeffries for the position. She praised his leadership following the Democratic victory. The final leadership decisions will happen after the new Congress assembles.