US midterm elections: Democrats lead in both chambers of Congress, early results show
According to announced early results, Democrats have won 35 House seats and Republicans 15; Democrats are also ahead in the Senate and governor races.
Early results of the US midterm elections held on November 3 show the Democratic Party ahead in the races for the House of Representatives, the Senate and state governorships.
According to the announced early results for the House of Representatives, Democrats have won 35 seats and Republicans 15. A party needs 218 seats to secure control of the chamber.
In the Senate races, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff was re-elected in Georgia. In New Hampshire, Democrat Pappas defeated Republican Sununu to win the Senate seat, and in North Carolina the Senate seat was also won by the Democratic Party's candidate. Democrats also won the Senate races in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Illinois and Delaware.
With the results announced so far, Democrats hold 42 seats and Republicans 31 in the 100-seat Senate. Control of the Senate requires 51 seats.
In the governor races, Democrat J.B. Pritzker was re-elected governor of Illinois. Democrats won the governorships of Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. According to the announced results, Democrats have won 10 governorships and Republicans 8.
Polls closed in North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia and Wyoming, and later in 29 states on the East Coast and in the centre of the country. On election day, 21 polling stations in Florida were relocated due to a weather-related state of emergency.
Midterm elections are held halfway through the US president's four-year term. In these elections, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 Senate seats and the governorships of 36 states are contested. Before the vote, the Republican Party held the majority in both chambers of Congress.
