Democrats are celebrating a series of major victories in the midterm elections against President Donald Trump and Republicans, as the party looks to strengthen its congressional majorities while several closely contested races remain undecided.
Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin described the results as a strong sign of public support for the party. Speaking Wednesday, he said millions of voters had placed their trust in Democrats to fight for their interests, adding that the party would now focus on building a more affordable America.
Democrats secured significant victories across the country, flipping control of both the House and Senate while also making gains in several down-ballot contests. Their successes included victories in gubernatorial races and efforts to protect abortion rights in several states. By early Thursday, Democrats had flipped seven Senate seats and 32 House seats, although vote counting continued in Alaska, Mississippi and dozens of House races.
President Trump said he would accept the election results and work with Democrats, but warned that he would veto Democratic legislation sent to his desk. He described presidential veto power as the “ultimate power,” although Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
One of the most closely watched outstanding contests is the U.S. Senate race in Alaska, where Democrat Mary Peltola was leading incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan by 637 votes, with approximately 74% of ballots counted, according to the Associated Press. Neither candidate had crossed the 50% threshold required to avoid the state’s ranked-choice voting system.
The final outcome could take several weeks because of Alaska’s voting procedures and the time needed to receive ballots from remote communities. Military ballots can also arrive up to 15 days after Election Day, provided they were postmarked by that date.
According to David Becker, a former Justice Department voting rights lawyer who leads the Center for Election Innovation & Research, officials will need to wait for additional ballots before determining the result. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, ranked-choice counting will begin, with the process not scheduled to start before November 18.
Becker suggested that a clearer picture of the Alaska Senate race may not emerge until the second half of November, leaving the final balance of congressional power uncertain as election officials continue counting.
