Republicans Take Control of Senate for the First Time in 4 Years

Mar. 15, 2025

House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate GOP Vice Chair Shelley Moore Capito at a May 2024 news conference.Photo:Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty

Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty

Republicans will regain control of the United States Senate in January, The Associated Press projected early Wednesday morning while several elections remained uncalled.Heading into Election Day Democrats controlled the chamber 51-49, putting pressure on both parties to treat every Senate race as a must-win.Senate Democrats were put on defense in the 2024 elections, as some of the party’s most vulnerable senators went up for reelection andliberal-leaning Joe Manchin forfeited his seatin deeply conservative West Virginia.Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown’supset loss in Ohioon election night set Republicans on the path to taking control even before several other battlegrounds had been called.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.With the new Republican majority, the Senate GOP is now tasked with electing a leader. Longtime Republican Senate LeaderMitch McConnellpreviously announced thathe will step down from his leadership positionafter the election.Though the U.S. vice president technically presides over Congress' upper chamber as Senate president, the majority leader — whoever succeeds McConnell — oversees the Senate’s priorities. Democrat Chuck Schumer held that position for the past four years.

Republicans will regain control of the United States Senate in January, The Associated Press projected early Wednesday morning while several elections remained uncalled.

Heading into Election Day Democrats controlled the chamber 51-49, putting pressure on both parties to treat every Senate race as a must-win.

Senate Democrats were put on defense in the 2024 elections, as some of the party’s most vulnerable senators went up for reelection andliberal-leaning Joe Manchin forfeited his seatin deeply conservative West Virginia.

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown’supset loss in Ohioon election night set Republicans on the path to taking control even before several other battlegrounds had been called.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.

With the new Republican majority, the Senate GOP is now tasked with electing a leader. Longtime Republican Senate LeaderMitch McConnellpreviously announced thathe will step down from his leadership positionafter the election.

Though the U.S. vice president technically presides over Congress' upper chamber as Senate president, the majority leader — whoever succeeds McConnell — oversees the Senate’s priorities. Democrat Chuck Schumer held that position for the past four years.

source: people.com