Democrats win the House as two Senate races stay too close to call

Americans voted in midterm elections on Tuesday, with control of Congress for the rest of President Trump's term at stake. Slate reports that Democrats have officially won 237 House seats, and a few dozen House races have not been called. In the Senate, the contests in Alaska and Mississippi are still undecided.

In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom, a district attorney, was ahead of Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 65 votes, by Slate's count. In Alaska, the Associated Press showed Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan virtually tied, with part of the expected vote still out. If no candidate wins a majority there, a ranked choice count would follow.

Slate also reports that Republican Sen. Susan Collins lost in Maine. Newsweek reports Democrats flipped both legislative chambers in Wisconsin and took the Texas House, though not all results were final, and Republicans still appear to hold the Texas Senate. In Washington state, The Center Square reports House Democrats are on track to widen their lead if election night leads hold, while the party would not gain a supermajority in the state Senate.

Steven Rogers of Saint Louis University told Newsweek that states handle most education spending and shape transportation, including roads. Political scientist Boris Shor said a party that holds the governor's office and both chambers can more easily pass budgets and change Medicaid, K-12 funding, housing and zoning policy. In Wisconsin, he said, expanding Medicaid is now "realistically on the table." Thad Kousser said new Democratic legislatures will likely focus on cost of living, housing and health care.