Senate midterm results U.S. 2022

In the 2022 midterm elections, 35 Senate seats were up for grabs. Heading into election day, 21 of those seats were held by Republicans, and 14 by Democrats. After all the votes had been counted, Republicans had secured 20 seats, and Democrats 15. In the next congressional term, Democrats will control the Senate with a 51-49 majority.

Senate elections

The United States Senate is made up of 100 members, two from each state. Senators serve six year terms, with staggered elections. In any given election year, one third of Senate seats are contested. In 2022, 21 seats held by Republicans and 14 seats held by Democrats were on the ballot. Prior to this election, the Democrats had control of the Senate, despite an equal 50-50 split. In the case of a deadlock, the Vice President holds the deciding vote. The Vice President for at least two more years is Kamala Harris - a Democrat.

One party must hold 50 seats plus the Vice Presidency, or 51 seats without the VP to have a Senate majority. Prior to these midterm elections, Democrats held 48 seats with two independent Senators (Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine) who caucus with them. To ensure a majority in the next sitting of the Senate, the Democrats needed to win back all of the 14 contested seats. Republicans needed to win back all 21 seats, and flip a seat from the Democrats.

Results

The full results of the Senate elections were not known until December 6^th, 2022. Despite this, the party of President Joe Biden was able to flip the open Senate seat in Pennsylvania where Republican Senator Pat Toomey had retired. Progressive candidate John Fetterman was able to fight off Trump-backed Mehmet Oz, flipping the seat blue. This meant that Democrats could already declare control of the Senate without the results of the final seat to be called - Georgia. In Georgia, one candidate must secure a majority of the vote (opposed to a plurality), otherwise the race advances the top two candidates to a run-off election. Democratic incumbent candidate Raphael Warnock defeated Trump-backed Hershel Walker in the run-off, finalizing the Democratic control of the Senate to 51 seats.