Midterms 2022: Republicans ahead in the House of Representatives, very tight battle for the Senate… What to remember from the first results

The Republicans had a good thirty seats ahead of the lower house of the American Congress on Wednesday morning, while the two parties are neck and neck for the majority in the upper house.

American voters vote for the midterm elections on November 8, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio (United States). (DREW ANGERER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

 

What will the US Congress look like for Joe Biden’s last two years in office? Republicans are ahead of Democrats in the House of Representatives as the battle continues to be very close for control of the Senate, according to the first results of the midterm elections in the United States, published on Wednesday November 9 in the morning (French time) by the Associated Press* agency and the New York Times*.

Midterms are very regularly a sanction vote for the incumbent president. Will the Republicans win a majority in both chambers? At this stage, “it’s certainly not a Republican wave, that’s for sure”, reacted the influential Republican senator Lindsey Graham on the American channel NBC. Here is what to remember from the first results of these mid-term elections.

Republicans lead in House of Representatives

A soon to be red majority in the House of Representatives, the American equivalent of the National Assembly? At 11 a.m. Wednesday (French time), the Republicans maintained their lead in the lower house of Congress, with 199 seats against 172 for the Democrats. This assembly was until now composed of 220 Democrats and 212 Republicans. To obtain a majority, a side must win at least 218 seats (435 seats in total).

Temporary results in the House of Representatives

Progressive politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won re-election in New York, as did Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in California. Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, close to the QAnon movement and known for her racist and conspiratorial remarks, also retained her seat.

The two camps neck and neck in the Senate

The battle was going to be very close. At 11 a.m. Wednesday (French time), the Democratic and Republican parties are neck and neck in the Senate, with 48 seats for the Democrats and 47 for the Republicans. First victory for the conservative camp: Republican J.D. Vance, supported by Donald Trump, was elected senator from Ohio against Democrat Tim Ryan.

Temporary results in the Senate

On the Democratic side, New York State Senator Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democratic majority in the upper house, was re-elected for a fifth term. According to the New York Times, Democrat John Fetterman was elected in Pennsylvania against surgeon Mehmet Oz, supported by Donald Trump. Another major victory for Joe Biden’s party: Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan, who faced Republican Donald Bolduc, was also re-elected in the state of New Hampshire.

Republican Governors Ron DeSantis and Brian Kemp re-elected

During these midterm elections, the Americans were also called upon to choose 36 governors. Republican Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s rival within the party and incumbent governor of Florida, was re-elected to his post, collecting 59.4% of the vote against 39.9% for Democrat Charlie Crist, according to almost final results * . In Georgia, outgoing Governor Brian Kemp also won against Democrat Stacey Abrams, known for her work in mobilizing new Democratic voters in the state.

In Pennsylvania, Democrat Josh Shapiro wins against his rival Doug Mastriano, to replace current Democratic Governor Tom Wolf. Doug Mastriano is one of the “deniers”, these many Republican candidates who question the validity of Joe Biden’s election in 2020. Another Democrat, Wes Moore, was elected governor of Maryland against Republican Dan Cox. He will replace the current Republican governor of the state, Larry Hogan. The Democrats also win the governorship in the state of Massachusetts, according to the first results.