Democrats won control of the U.S. House in Tuesday’s midterm elections, flipping swing districts and seats once considered deep red. According to CBS News, the party is on pace to win 256 seats, up from the 214 it holds in the current Congress. So far, 43 districts have shifted to Democrats and two have shifted to Republicans, and winners in dozens of races have not been projected.
Among the Republicans who lost were Rep. Mike Lawler in New York’s Hudson Valley, Rep. Richard Hudson, who chairs the GOP’s House campaign arm, in North Carolina’s 9th District, and Rep. Mike Turner in Ohio’s 10th District. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, and every statewide seat there flipped to Democrats.
Republicans kept the Florida 13th District, but only narrowly. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna led by less than one point with 99% of the vote counted, CBS News projected.
The Senate picture remains unsettled in Mississippi, where Democrat Scott Colom led incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by fewer than 2,000 votes. About 3,600 mail ballots remained outstanding, and counties have until Nov. 13 to certify results. Mississippi does not allow recounts.
President Trump has given mixed signals on how he will work with the incoming Democratic majorities. He told Politico, “We’re going to work with the Democrats,” then later said he would have the power of the veto. Some Republicans, meanwhile, may be more willing to break with a president who cannot seek another term.
