[This article reflects the results of the midterm elections as of November 8 at 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, including races whose outcomes were not yet final. Check back for updates.]
Americans went to the polls on November 6 to elect all of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate. The new Congress will take office in January 2019. Republicans will continue to have the majority in the Senate while Democrats picked up at least 27 seats to win control of the House of Representatives. Results of several contests are still pending.
Republicans and Democrats will share power in the legislative branch. The House of Representatives, which consists of 435 voting members, has a large role in spending decisions and has the power to investigate the executive branch. The Senate, made up of 100 members, has the power to approve nominations, such as those to the Supreme Court.
Women made historic gains in the House and at least tied the record for female representation in the Senate. Including an Arizona race that hasn’t been officially called (but where two women are the candidates), there will be at least 23 women in the Senate and one more in a runoff election in three weeks. So far, 95 women have been elected in the House, breaking the previous record of 85 females, and that number will grow. In four undecided races, both candidates are female. Another 11 races have female candidates but haven’t been decided yet.
All graphics: State Dept./Julia Maruszewski
