© 2024 Allbritton Journalism Institute

Republicans Win Control of the Senate

The 2024 election was always going to be a tough one for Democrats. It was shaping up early Wednesday morning to be even tougher than they thought.

Mitch McConnell, John Thune, John Cornyn
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, accompanied by Sen. John Cornyn, speaks to reporters following a closed-door GOP policy meeting, at the Capitol. Andrew Harnik/AP

As Tuesday became Wednesday, the presidential race hadn’t yet been called, but Republicans were already celebrating one key victory: The U.S. Senate.

With the GOP flipping seats in West Virginia and Ohio — and officially hanging on in Nebraska — Republicans will have a majority in the Senate. They may also add to their numbers, with races in Pennsylvania, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan — all seats that Democrats are defending — yet to be called.

Businessman Bernie Moreno’s win over incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown is a particular bright spot for Republicans, completing Ohio’s political realignment and sidelining one of the Democratic Party’s best messengers.