[US Midterm Elections] 'Counting in Progress' House Leans Republican - Senate in a Nail-Biting Close Race

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] On the 8th (local time), as most of the voting for the midterm elections that will determine the landscape of the U.S. Congress has been completed and counting has begun, the House of Representatives is currently led by the Republican Party, while the Senate remains in an extremely close race with no clear prediction of victory for either side.

Currently, the House consists of 220 seats held by the Democratic Party, 212 seats by the Republican Party, and 3 vacant seats. Excluding the vacancies, if the Republicans gain 6 seats from the Democrats based on the current seat distribution, they will reclaim the majority. It has been widely expected that the Republicans have a significant chance of regaining the majority status in the House in this midterm election.

As of 11:50 PM Eastern Time, The Washington Post (WP) analyzed that the Democrats have secured 114 seats and the Republicans 168 seats in the House. Among these, the Republicans are projected to have won 4 districts previously held by Democrats. CNN reports that the Democrats have won 146 seats and the Republicans 182 seats in the House. Bloomberg News reports that the Democrats have secured 116 seats and the Republicans 168 seats in the House.

The Senate is showing an extremely close race as initially expected. WP reports that out of 100 Senate seats (including 65 senators not up for election), the Democrats and Republicans each hold 45 seats, resulting in a tie. CNN analyzes that both parties have secured 46 seats each. Bloomberg reports that the Democrats have 45 seats and the Republicans 46 seats, indicating a Republican lead in the Senate.

CNN stated, "Senate seats have not changed yet. It is too early to call victory in some key battleground states that will determine control of the Senate." The Associated Press (AP) reported, "It is still too early to say which party will control the Senate." A major foreign news outlet also noted, "The early wave of Republican victories is not materializing."

In this election, all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and governors of 36 out of 50 states are being elected. Currently, the Democrats hold the majority in the House, while the Senate is evenly split with 50 seats each for the Democrats and Republicans.