The Democratic Party has taken control of the Senate from the Republicans in the US midterm elections, a major shift in Washington’s balance of power. For the next two years Democrats may stand in the way of President Donald Trump’s legislative programme, and the party will also have more room to oversee and investigate the Trump administration’s actions.
In the latest results Democrats have won in several key states, with the big surprises coming in South Carolina and North Carolina, where Democratic candidates took Senate seats from sitting Republicans.
In South Carolina, Democratic candidate Annie Andrews defeated Republican candidate and sitting senator Darline Graham. It is the first time in nearly three decades that a Democrat has won a Senate election in the state; South Carolina has not elected a Democratic senator since 1998.
The seat had long been held by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. After his death in July this year, his sister Darline Graham was appointed senator. She later stood as the Republican candidate for the full term, but lost to Annie Andrews.
In North Carolina, Democratic candidate Roy Cooper also won. Cooper, a two-term former governor of the state, defeated Republican candidate Michael Whatley, moving another Republican-held Senate seat to the Democrats. The previous senator for the seat, Thom Tillis, did not seek re-election.
Losing the Senate creates a new political challenge for Trump. His administration may now have to negotiate with Democrats on passing new laws and on appointments of judges and senior government officials.
With a Senate majority, Democrats will also be able to open investigations into the Trump administration’s actions and, if needed, move forward with impeachment proceedings against him.
Trump said of the result that he was not on the ballot, so the Republican defeat is not his responsibility. But losing control of the Senate is seen as a major political blow for his administration.
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