Congressional elections live updates: Republicans win Senate majority
The pickups for House Democrats have mostly come from New York so far as the party flipped its second seat in the state.
Democrat Josh Riley defeated Republican Rep. Mark Molinaro in a district that spans across the center of the state. Democrats earlier flipped a seat held by Rep. Brandon Williams.
While a House majority is still up for grabs, the victories will buoy Democrats' hopes, especially in House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries' home state.
Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Fitzpatrick, a four-term congressman and former FBI agent, represents a district based in Bucks County that Democrat Joe Biden carried in the 2020 presidential election. He defeated Democrat Ashley Ehasz, a retired Army helicopter pilot who lost to Fitzpatrick by 10 points in 2022. The Associated Press declared Fitzpatrick the winner at 1:23 a.m. EST.
Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Indiana on Wednesday. The second-term congressman represents a district in the northwest corner of the state near Chicago and Lake Michigan. Republicans had also targeted this district in 2022, but Mrvan won that election by about 6 percentage points. The Associated Press declared Mrvan the winner at 1:22 a.m. EST.
The candidates: Republican Ted Cruz, Democrat Colin Allred, Libertarian Ted Brown Poll closing time: 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST, depending on the part of the state Race called: 11:39 p.m. EST
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Democrat Josh Riley won election to a U.S. House seat representing New York on Wednesday, defeating Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro. Riley, an attorney, first faced Molinaro in the 2022 midterm election and narrowly lost to him. Molinaro was one of several first-term Republicans in New York running for reelection in a district that Democrat Joe Biden carried in the 2020 presidential election. This district stretches from the Hudson River Valley to the Finger Lakes. The Associated Press declared Riley the winner at 1:17 a.m. EST.
Nebraska voters approved a ballot measure to write the state's current 12-week abortion ban into the state constitution.
It also allows for a stricter ban to be imposed. The abortion restriction measure was one of two competing abortion measures to appear on the ballot.
The other measure would enshrine in the Nebraska Constitution the right to an abortion until viability, or later to protect the health of the pregnant woman.
Nebraska is the first state to carry competing abortion amendments on the same ballot since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, which ended a national right to abortion.
The measure's passage comes shortly after a closely-watched Senate race in the state ultimately ended with the Republican incumbent maintaining control.
Democrat Maggie Goodlander won election to a U.S. House seat representing New Hampshire on Wednesday, holding the seat for her party. She will succeed Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster, who is retiring after six terms in Congress. Goodlander is a former senior White House aide and is married to Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser. She defeated Republican Lily Tang Williams, who also ran for the seat in 2022 and finished third that year in the Republican primary. The Associated Press declared Goodlander the winner at 1:07 a.m. EST.
Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing New York on Wednesday. Suozzi, who had represented this Long Island district for three terms before stepping down to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2022, returned to his old seat this year in a special election after Republican Rep. George Santos was expelled from Congress. Suozzi defeated Michael LePetri, a former state assemblyman. The district covers the northern half of Nassau County and a small piece of Queens. The Associated Press declared Suozzi the winner at 1:07 a.m. EST.
Most House races have been called, but there have been practically no surprises so far, leaving the race for a House majority razor thin.
There are still almost 100 races still to be called across the country, and two dozen of those are the closest races.
Republicans have so far benefitted from redistricting in North Carolina, giving them a few pickups. But Democrats have been able to flip a competitive seat in New York as well as pickup a redistricted seat in Alabama.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., has been reelected to a sixth term in the House. She is the highest-ranking woman among House Republicans, serving as the conference chair.
Stefanik's rise in the GOP ranks follows her transition from studious moderate to staunch Donald Trump supporter and defender.
Stefanik replaced then Rep. Liz Cheney as the No. 3 GOP leader after Cheney was ousted from her post for repeatedly rebuking Trump for his false claims of election fraud and for his role inciting the Jan. 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
With Senate control going to the Republicans, the race for the House is being played out district-by-district in dozens of competitive elections.
For Republicans, it's a chance to gain full control of Congress as they try to sweep into power. For Democrats, a House majority will give them an important check on the GOP's power and force compromise in Washington.
House races are being decided across the country, from hard-fought races in New York to elections in California where it could still take days to determine a winner.
Republican Spencer Cox won reelection as governor of Utah on Wednesday. Cox defeated Democratic state Rep. Brian King and conservative write-in candidate Phil Lyman, who had urged his supporters to vote for him instead of Cox after losing the Republican primary in June. This will be Cox's second term in the governor's office. He has long been viewed as a moderate Republican but surprised voters this summer when he unexpectedly backed Donald Trump after the presidential candidate survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. The Associated Press declared Cox the winner at 12:29 a.m. EST.
The other contender for majority leader in a new Republican conference is the No. 2 GOP senator, John Thune.
The South Dakota lawmaker was initially seen as an obvious successor to McConnell, given his position as the vote counter for the conference but his fellow Republicans have made the race much more contentious over the past year.
"Tonight, with Republicans reclaiming majority control of the U.S. Senate, we can begin to turn the page on this expensive and reckless chapter of American history," Thune said in a statement.
Moments after AP declared that Republicans would control the Senate, one of the several contenders to replace Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made his case.
Sen. John Cornyn touted his experience as the GOP's vote counter during Trump's first term and working with rank-and-file members in a statement early Wednesday.
"As I've said, this election is not about us but rather what is best for the conference and the nation," the Texas Republican said. "I look forward to working with President Trump and our new conservative majority to make America great again by making the Senate work again."
The AP was able to declare Republicans would take control of the Senate with Republican Deb Fischer's win. Fischer led Independent challenger Dan Osborn by 3 percentage points with about 70% of the expected votes reporting at the time of the call. Fischer was winning the Election Day vote. Most uncounted votes were from largely rural counties, so Osborn - who was doing best in cities - did not have a path to victory.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said his loss to Republican Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno in Ohio "is a disappointment, but it is not a failure."
The three-term Democrat gave his concession speech in Columbus.
"It will never be wrong to fight for organized labor, it will never be wrong to fight for the freedom of women to make their healthcare decisions, it surely will never be wrong to fight for civil rights and human rights," he said.
In Cleveland, Moreno praised former President Donald Trump and pledged to help advance his agenda in Washington. He said he would work to win over those who didn't vote for him.
"We talked about wanting a red wave. I think what we have tonight is a red, white and blue wave," he said.
Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Wednesday. A former Navy officer, Deluzio has held the seat since 2023. This year, he defeated Republican Rob Mercuri, an Army veteran who represents part of Allegheny County in the state House of Representatives. In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden carried this district, which includes the Pittsburgh suburbs and extends through Beaver County to Ohio's eastern border. The Associated Press declared Deluzio the winner at 12:19 a.m. EST.
Republican Rep. Zach Nunn won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Iowa on Wednesday. Nunn flipped the highly competitive Des Moines-anchored district in 2022, just two cycles after Democrats flipped it in 2018. In 2020, the district split nearly evenly in the presidential race, though Republican Donald Trump ended up with the edge. This year, the race drew attention and millions of dollars in spending. Democrats backed Afghanistan war veteran Lanon Baccam. The Associated Press declared Nunn the winner at 12:18 a.m. EST.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as House speaker, has been reelected to a 20th term serving a San Francisco-based congressional district.
Pelosi has had two stints as House speaker, both lasting four years. In the second stint, she agreed to limit herself to two terms as the lead House Democrat as part of a compromise to secure the votes needed for her to gain the gavel.
She has the ceremonial title of speaker emerita and continues to hold sway even as Democratic members turn to a new generation of leadership.
Her husband, Paul, was seriously injured in October 2022 by an intruder who struck him in the head with a hammer. The attacker intended to hold Pelosi hostage, though she was not home at the time.
The AP declared the winner of this race when polls closed statewide. AP only makes such a call if results from AP VoteCast at poll close show a candidate leading by at least 15 percentage points. AP VoteCast is a comprehensive survey of the 2024 electorate, conducted in all 50 states. AP uses VoteCast results to confirm a state's long-standing political trends and voting history.
Democrats have picked up a seat in Alabama that was redistricted to ensure fair representation for Black voters. It's the second flipped seat for Democrats tonight.
Democrats Shomari Figures in Alabama prevailed over Republican Caroleene Dobson to give Democrats an important pickup in the race for House control.
Republicans have also benefited from redistricting, especially in North Carolina where they picked up three House seats redrawn by the state's GOP-controlled General Assembly to favor Republican candidates.
The GOP has won control of the Senate as Sen. Deb Fischer secures reelection in Nebraska.
With at least 51 Senate seats secured, Republicans will retake control of the chamber for the first time in four years. It gives the party a major power center in Washington and important power in confirming the next president's Cabinet, as well as any Supreme Court justice if there is a vacancy.
With a handful of battleground races yet to be decided, Republicans still have an opportunity to grow their majority.
GOP senators have already been looking at ways to extend tax cuts that were passed during Donald Trump's first term, as well as sending funding towards toughened border security measures.
However, the extent of Republicans' power in Washington will also be determined by the results of the presidential and House races.
Republican Rep. Bryan Steil won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Wisconsin on Wednesday. Steil won a fourth term over Peter Barca, who was the last Democrat to hold the seat. Barca went on to serve in the state Legislature and left his job as Wisconsin revenue secretary to take on Steil. Steil was first elected to the seat in 2018, succeeding former House Speaker Paul Ryan. The congressional district covers southeastern Wisconsin along the Illinois border. The Associated Press declared Steil the winner at 12:07 a.m. EST.
Republican Sen. Deb Fischer won a third term to represent Nebraska in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. Fischer won her previous two elections by wide margins in the deep-red state. But she faced her toughest challenge yet in political newcomer Dan Osborn, a mechanical engineer who appealed to voters by eschewing the major political parties and running as an independent. Fischer successfully countered by leaning into support for former President Donald Trump. Despite their at-times rocky relationship, Trump endorsed Fischer for reelection, which Fischer touted in her campaign ads. The Associated Press declared Fischer the winner at 12:06 a.m. EST.
Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing New Jersey on Wednesday. The first-term congressman served as minority leader in the New Jersey Senate for over a decade before waging a challenge against Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski in 2022. This year, Kean defeated Democrat Sue Altman. Democrat Joe Biden carried this district in 2020, though it became slightly more favorable to Republicans in redistricting. It includes suburbs west of New York City, stretching from Westfield to Pennsylvania's eastern border. The Associated Press declared Kean the winner at 12:00 a.m. EST.
Republican Rep. Nick LaLota won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing New York on Wednesday. LaLota, a first-term congressman, defeated John Avlon, a former CNN political analyst. The 1st Congressional District is contained within Suffolk County and stretches from the eastern tip of Long Island to the New York City suburbs. Republicans have held the seat for the last decade. LaLota was one of several New York Republicans running for reelection in a district whose voters were narrowly divided in the 2020 presidential election. The Associated Press declared LaLota the winner at 12:00 a.m. EST.
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii has been reelected to a third term Wednesday. The Democrat defeated Republican former state Rep. Bob McDermott. Hirono serves on the Senate armed services, judiciary and veterans affairs committees. She was first elected to the Senate in 2012. She previously represented Hawaii in the U.S. House and served as lieutenant governor and a state legislator. Hirono was born in Japan and immigrated to the U.S. with her mother and brother when she was in elementary school. Hirono is the first Asian American woman elected to the Senate. The Associated Press declared Hirono the winner at 12:00 a.m. EST.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the only Palestinian American in Congress, has won a fourth term in the House.
Tlaib represents a district with a large Arab-American population. She has been highly critical of Israel in its war against Hamas, describing its actions in Gaza as genocide.
But her comments have also evoked outrage from many of her colleagues. The Republican-led House voted last year to censure her for her statements regarding the war.
Tlaib said her criticism was directed toward Israel's government and its leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and vowed she "will not be silenced."
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas says he considers his reelection victory over Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred a mandate for stronger enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border.
During a victory speech in front of supporters in his hometown of Houston, Cruz praised strong support from Hispanic voters. He singled out South Texas, where Cruz was performing much better in large border counties than he did during a narrow victory in 2018 over Beto O'Rourke.
"Tonight we are witnessing incredible results, especially with Hispanics across the state of Texas," Cruz told the crowd. "And we are seeing tonight generational change in South Texas. The results tonight, this decisive victory should shake the Democratic establishment to its core."
Democrat Shomari Figures won election to a U.S. House seat representing Alabama on Tuesday. Figures, a native of Mobile, previously worked for the Obama administration. Republican Rep. Barry Moore, who currently represents the district, is running in the neighboring 1st District after a federal court ordered Alabama to draw a new congressional district that ensured Black residents' voting power. That decision also brought more voters who previously supported Democrat Joe Biden into the 2nd District, making it a top target for his party. The Associated Press declared Figures the winner at 11:54 p.m. EST.
The AP declared Republican Ted Cruz the winner when he was leading by just over 10 percentage points with roughly three-quarters of the expected votes counted. Cruz was winning over 52% of the votes cast on Election Day. Democrat Colin Allred had a modest lead in votes cast before Election Day, but with mostly Election Day votes remaining in the large counties, there weren't enough votes left for Allred to overtake Cruz.
Republican Dave McCormick has overtaken Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey with nearly 80% of the estimated votes counted. McCormick was leading by 13 points in votes cast on Election Day, even as Casey was winning the mailed ballots. While McCormick was behind in Philadelphia and its suburbs, he was leading in other parts of the state.
Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Texas on Tuesday. De La Cruz, a Latina businesswoman, defended the newly drawn 15th Congressional District that stretches from San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley. She faced a rematch this year against her 2022 opponent, Democrat Michelle Vallejo. The Associated Press declared De La Cruz the winner at 11:45 p.m. EST.
Democrats are in a desperate defensive fight across the map in the race for Senate control as Republicans lock up the Senate race in Texas.
Democrat Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker who would have been Texas' first Black senator, had tried to attack Sen. Ted Cruz for the state's abortion ban, but Cruz's victory ensures that Republicans continue their victory streak in the Lone Star state.
It also means that Republicans are one seat away from gaining Senate control.
They just need to secure reelection for Sen. Deb Fischer in Nebraska, or flip a Senate seat in any battleground state, including Montana, Michigan or Pennsylvania.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar won a fourth term Tuesday over ex-NBA player Royce White in Minnesota. Klobuchar went into the campaign with a history of big wins and a huge financial advantage. She drew 60% of the vote in 2018, 65% in 2012 and 58% in 2006. White is a grassroots populist conservative who acknowledged he was as surprised as anyone when he won the state GOP endorsement in May. While White strongly supported Donald Trump, the former president never endorsed him, and top office-holders kept their distance. The Associated Press declared Klobuchar the winner at 11:43 p.m. EST.
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing New Hampshire on Tuesday. Pappas will serve a fourth term after succeeding Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in 2018. The eastern New Hampshire district has been a target for Republicans since GOP Rep. Frank Guinta lost to Shea-Porter in 2016. Democrat Joe Biden carried the district in 2020, but Donald Trump won it in 2016. This year, Pappas' Republican opponent was former executive councilor Russell Prescott. The Associated Press declared Pappas the winner at 11:42 p.m. EST.
Out of 177 polling places in Georgia's Fulton County, 32 faced bomb threats on Election Day. Police Chief W. Wade Yates confirmed only five locations had brief evacuations before safely resuming voting.
Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure and Security Agency, told reporters late Tuesday night that the election process endured "minor disruptive activity throughout the day" but that that activity was anticipated and planned for.
"At this time, we've seen no evidence of malicious activity impacting the integrity... of election infrastructure," she said.
Easterly also said the bomb threats reported in multiple states were all deemed non-credible and did not affect the ability of voters to cast ballots.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz won reelection in Texas on Tuesday, fending off a tough challenge from Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas. Cruz, a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump, criticized Allred on the campaign trail as too liberal for the Lone Star state. Allred tried to position himself as a moderate in the race and leaned into his support for abortion rights and criticism of Texas' abortion ban, which is one of the strictest in the nation. The Associated Press declared Cruz the winner at 11:39 p.m. EST.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has been reelected to a fourth term in the House.
Omar is one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress, along with Rashida Tlaib.
Republicans have clashed with Omar since she arrived in Congress, and Trump frequently taunts her at his rallies in ways that appeal to his supporters.
When Republicans took the majority after the 2022 mid-terms, they quickly targeted Omar for removal from the chamber's Foreign Affairs Committee, citing past anti-Israel comments.
The move came in response to Democrats in the previous session of Congress booting far-right GOP lawmakers from their committees over incendiary remarks.
