Democrats win Congress, but Alaska and Mississippi Senate races remain uncalled
Democrats are set to hold at least 54 Senate seats, and the AP's count leaves 19 House seats undecided.
Democrats flipped control of both and the in the elections held on Tuesday, but the full scale of their win is not yet known. In the Senate, Democrats are set to hold at least 54 seats to Republicans' 44. Two races remain uncalled, in Alaska and Mississippi.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by about 600 votes in a contest, and ballots are still being counted. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom leads Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, and the state is still counting provisional and late-arriving . Hyde-Smith posted on X on Friday that the election is not over.
In the House, 19 races were still undecided on Friday afternoon, according to the Associated Press count cited by the New York Post. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert narrowly trails Democrat Eileen Laubacher in Colorado. A Boebert campaign lawyer, Scott Gessler, alleges "unusual voting patterns" and says he expects a recount.
In North Carolina, The Center Square reports that Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx trails Democrat Chuck Hubbard.
- 254 races for Democrats and 162 for Republicans House races called by the AP as of Friday afternoon — New York Post
- 19 House seats still up in the air undecided House races, by the AP's count — New York Post
- 54-44 Democrats' Senate majority secured so far — New York Post
- about 600 votes Peltola's lead over Sullivan in Alaska — New York Post
- about 2,500 votes Colom's lead over Hyde-Smith in Mississippi — New York Post
Three sides of the story
Liberal3 outlets
a Democratic rout with the final scale unsettled
CBS News opens by saying the makeup of "shifted dramatically" and that Democrats are on track for "one of the largest midterm routs in recent decades." It then goes race by race: Alaska and Mississippi in the Senate, Republican-held and Democratic-held still open, and California seats that need more ballot counting. It explains the pending steps, such as Alaska's ranked-choice count, with final results due 15 days after Election Day, and Maine's 2nd District tabulation starting Nov. 9.
The New York Times reports that Democrats "clinched control of Congress" and says it was still unclear just how big the party's landslide and the Republican losses would turn out to be. NPR says Democrats are poised for a strong majority and lists the races still waiting for an AP call. Its morning brief adds that Democrats are planning their agenda for the new year and that Trump avoids taking the blame for losses.
Center1 outlet
sweeping Democratic wins and the closest races to watch
BBC News opens with Democrats celebrating "sweeping midterm victories," including flipping both chambers, and notes that several important races had not been called as of Thursday. It then lays out five numbered sections. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom leads Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by a little over 1,100 votes, and the BBC notes he would be the first Black US senator elected there since 1875.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola leads Sen. Dan Sullivan by just over 600 votes. The BBC reports that The New York Times described allegations that Peltola and Alaska Democrats recruited an independent named Dan Sullivan to confuse voters, and Peltola has denied any knowledge. The House section includes Trump ally Lauren Boebert, narrowly trailing Democrat Eileen Laubacher, and Tennessee's Scott DesJarlais.
The BBC adds California's billionaire wealth tax, the Los Angeles mayor's race and the Kansas governor's race. It says Republican losses would mean "a bigger rejection of Trump."
Conservative2 outlets
a few close races go Republicans' way
The New York Post leads with Republicans getting "some good news" on Friday as a handful of close House races went their way, including wins for Rep. Jeff Hurd, Mark Lamb and Anthony Constantino. It gives the Associated Press count of 254 races for Democrats and 162 for Republicans, with 19 undecided, and says Democrats still have a "massive majority." It quotes Boebert campaign lawyer Scott Gessler on "unusual voting patterns" and an expected recount, and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's post: "We are not backing down."
The Center Square reports vote-by-vote margins. One report says five North Carolina U.S. House seats still lacked a call, with Rep. Virginia Foxx trailing Democrat Chuck Hubbard by 99 votes and Rep. Greg Murphy ahead by 233, and it lists canvass dates and recount rules. Another covers three Michigan toss-ups, giving vote gaps and Trump endorsements in each.
Which side made the stronger case?
All sources: 8 articles from 6 outlets
Liberal (4)
- CBS News: These House and Senate midterm races don't have winners yet
- NPR: These are the races in the House and Senate that haven't been called yet
- NPR: Morning news brief
Center (1)
Conservative (3)
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