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US Politics

Democrats projected to flip the House and win Senate races across the South

Just the News reports Mississippi and Alaska remain uncalled, with Democrat Scott Colom leading Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 43 votes at press time.

The U.S. Capitol in Washington
The U.S. Capitol in Washington. Photo: Architect of the Capitol, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
6 news outlets reported this
Liberal3 outletsOssoff and Cooper's wins freeing money elsewhereCenter2 outletsDemocratic majorities, policy proposals and Trump's vetoConservative1 outletMississippi's razor-thin Senate race and a blue wave
Published 4 min readMoney and daily life
Overview

Democrats did well in Tuesday's elections, and the outlets report different stages of the count. The BBC reports that Democrats are projected to take away from Republican control. Newsweek says the new takes office in January.

Semafor says control of the still depends on several uncalled races, including Ohio and Texas. Semafor reports that Georgia incumbent Jon Ossoff and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper won their Senate races early, each by a double-digit margin. The New York Times reports Democratic Senate wins in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and says Democrats hold small leads in Mississippi and Alaska.

Just the News says that in Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 43 votes at press time, with 96% of precincts reporting. It adds that a recount is almost certain and names Alaska as the only other uncalled Senate race. Newsweek notes that President Trump can still veto legislation and that Democrats may lack the votes to override him.

Semafor reports that the party's top Senate saved $22 million in North Carolina and $11 million in Georgia by pulling ads.

Key figures
  • 43 votes Colom's lead over Hyde-Smith in Mississippi, with 96% of precincts reporting — Just the News
  • 48.9% Colom's share of the vote in Mississippi — Just the News
  • $22 million saved by Senate Majority PAC in North Carolina by pulling ads — Semafor
  • $11 million saved by Senate Majority PAC in Georgia by pulling ads — Semafor
  • 1,686 votes Republican Paul LePage's lead over Democrat Matt Dunlap in Maine's 2nd District, about 87% counted — Newsweek

Three sides of the story

Liberal3 outlets

Ossoff and Cooper's wins freeing money elsewhere

Semafor opens with Democrats' "two quick, decisive Senate victories" by Georgia incumbent Jon Ossoff and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, then follows the money. Senate Majority PAC pulled weeks of ads in both states, per information shared with Semafor, and spokesperson Lauren French calls the reinvestment "a game-changer." Semafor says the savings helped fund spending in Mississippi, South Carolina and Kansas and shored up Michigan and Maine.

Its Burgess's view section credits "boringly effective campaigns." Semafor adds that control of the chamber still rests on uncalled races, including Ohio and Texas. The New York Times says Democrats won Senate races in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and its election data reporter Evan Reynolds explains gains in some historically Republican counties.

A second Times piece says Democrats are "clinging to small leads" in Alaska and Mississippi. NPR's Morning Edition talks to Stacey Abrams, who sees the Georgia wins as an opening for "correcting and restoring rights."

Center2 outlets

Democratic majorities, policy proposals and Trump's veto

Newsweek's three explainers ask what Democratic majorities could do. One describes "a bruising night for President Donald Trump and Republicans" and says Democrats won both chambers, with the new Congress taking office in January. The piece sets out Democratic ideas, including raising or eliminating the payroll tax cap and reviving the Social Security 2100 Act.

The student loan piece covers four bills, among them one to end interest on federal loans and one to set a 2 percent rate. The piece says Democrats could use House control to pass legislation seeking to restrict ICE funding, and notes that Congress has already approved large multi-year money for immigration enforcement. It also profiles six Democrats who voted for a funding bill with ICE money and were projected to keep their seats.

The Social Security and student loan pieces say Trump keeps his veto. The ICE piece says any measure would need his signature or enough votes to override. Finance expert Michael Ryan tells Newsweek "the math doesn't care who won yesterday."

The BBC's North America editor, Sarah Smith, reports that the House is projected to move from Republican to Democratic control.

Conservative1 outlet

Mississippi's razor-thin Senate race and a blue wave

Just the News runs the headline "Democrat clings to lead in Mississippi Senate race." Chief Political Correspondent Ben Whedon writes that Democrat Scott Colom is narrowly ahead in "normally ruby-red Mississippi" as he tries to oust Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. At press time Colom had 48.9% of the vote and a lead of 43 votes, with 96% of precincts counted.

The piece says the race is "almost certainly headed for a recount." It adds that even if Hyde-Smith holds on, the contest is "a stinging rebuke to Republicans," whom it describes as winners of state-level races for decades. The outlet calls the cycle a blue wave midterm.

It reports that Democrats have won every competitive Senate race the Associated Press has called so far, and it names Alaska as the only other uncalled contest.

Money and daily life

Newsweek reports Democratic control of Congress could put proposals to raise Social Security benefits and tax more of high earners' wages back on the agenda once the new Congress takes office in January. President Trump can still veto bills, and Democrats may lack the votes to override him. On student loans, finance expert Michael Ryan told Newsweek that Democratic leverage "doesn't automatically change anyone's monthly bill."

All sources: 9 articles from 6 outlets

Liberal (4)

Center (4)

Conservative (1)

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