Democrats need four seats to control Senate as midterms approach

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 18:28 · Archive

Democrats need four seats to gain a Senate majority in Tuesday's midterm elections, with 35 Senate seats, 435 House seats and 39 governorships up for grabs.

Tuesday's United States midterm elections will determine control of Congress and multiple state offices. Voters will decide 35 Senate seats, all 435 House seats and 39 governorships across the country.

Democrats need to gain four seats to secure a majority in the Senate. Republicans face an uphill battle to retain their current Senate majority as the midterm elections approach in less than one week.

Some of Tuesday's races are expected to be competitive enough that they could trigger recounts and legal challenges. The Independent World reports that some results may take weeks to clear recounts and court challenges. When House or Senate results are contested, the chambers themselves have the final say. The U.S. Constitution makes each chamber 'the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members', giving lawmakers the ultimate authority when results are disputed.

States run federal elections and certify their results, but candidates can challenge state-certified congressional outcomes. In the House, losing candidates can challenge results under the Federal Contested Election Act, with the House Administration Committee considering challenges and recommending to the full House who should be seated. In the Senate, the Senate Rules Committee reviews challenges and makes recommendations to the full Senate.

Victoria Bassetti, senior advisor at States United Democracy Center, said that 'those within the recount or contest margin of error – the candidates, outside groups and the administration – will fight those tooth and nail'. Since the first Congress met in 1789, the House has grappled with 634 contested elections.

How it is being reported

• What happens if disputed midterm results leave Congress unable to function?Some of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm races may take weeks to clear recounts and court challenges, but ultimately, the Senate and House of Representatives decide who gets seatedIndependent World · 30 Oct, 15:07
• Final countdown to the make-or-break midterms – podcastThere are 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 in the Senate and 39 governorships up for grabs in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Jonathan Freedland is joined by Carrie Dann, of the Cook Political Report, to run through some of the races to watch before the final weekend of campaigning Continue reading...The Guardian · 30 Oct, 12:00
• Democrats need just four seats to grab the Senate on Tuesday. These are the 10 brawls that decide it.Republicans face an uphill battle to keep their US Senate majority as the midterm elections quickly approach in less than one week.Daily Mail · 29 Oct, 15:54

In this story: United States · Senate · House of Representatives · Democrats · Republicans · Congress

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