Last Updated on November 4, 2020
Democrats dumped hundreds of millions of dollars into a national effort to wrestle control of the United States Senate from Republican control. But as the vote counting begins to end it appears their efforts have fallen short and Democrats will remain the minority party in the chamber.
Democrats successfully regained control of several seats they had held in past elections but lost at least one other. When the math is done it appears, barring anything incredibly out of the ordinary, the Republicans will retain control of the Senate.
"Republicans look poised to hold the Senate, rendering any Biden agenda dead on arrival. Filibuster remains. No Green New Deal. No court packing. No statehood for Washington DC and Puerto Rico," writes @redsteezehttps://t.co/MO1kiqPe97
— The Spectator (@SpectatorUSA) November 4, 2020
Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Martha McSally (R-AZ), fell to their Democrat challengers but the overwhelming majority of Republicans up for re-election held their seats. Incumbents considered vulnerable – including Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Steve Daines (R-MT) – won their races, according to multiple projections,.
The seat held by Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL), was lost to former college football coach Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville crushed former Attorney General and former Republican Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions in that state’s GOP Primary race.
And with 93 percent of the vote counted Democrats face the prospect of losing the Michigan seat held by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). Republican businessman John James is leading Peters 49.2 percent to 48.9 percent.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who opposed the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was also holding her own against challenger Sara Gideon by a margin of 6.7 percent, 50 percent to 43.3 percent.
In another closely watched race – and one that saw National File taking the lead with breaking news, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) declared victory late Tuesday of Cal Cunningham, who was embattled in a sex scandal that saw his lead evaporate. Though the race has not officially been called by state election officials or news organizations, the numbers point to Tillis.
As well as repelling the attacks by Democrats on the many seats Democrats and Progressives hoped to take from the GOP, Republicans held control of the Kansas seat left open by the retirement of Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS). Roger Marshall won handily in his race against Barbara Bollier 53.1 percent to 42.0 percent.
On the Democrat side, Mark Kelly, a former astronaut who’s staff was caught tweeting disparaging statements against the Chicago Police Department, defeated Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ). And former Colorado Governor and failed Democrat presidential candidate John Hickenlooper trumped Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO).
Democrats still hold out hope they can flip at least one of the seats representing Georgia.
