Election Updates QuickTake

Three days after Election Night, Republicans are looking to pad their Senate majority, take control of the House, and ready themselves for a transfer of power in the White House.

The GOP has, so far, gained four seats in the Upper Chamber of Congress, bringing their total to 53 seats. Two races – in the swing states of Nevada and Arizona – have yet to be called.

Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake are vying for Arizona’s open Senate seat, left vacant by the retirement of independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Gallego, who has been representing Arizona’s 3rd district since 2015, is currently less than 0.7 points ahead of Kari Lake, an election denier with a failed 2022 gubernatorial campaign, though only 76% of the vote total has been reported.

In Nevada, it looks like Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen will manage to stave off Republican challenger Sam Brown. Ninety-six percent of the vote is in, and Rosen is up a more comfortable 1.3 points on Brown. The two races will determine just how comfortable a majority Republicans have in the Senate.

In the House, over two dozen races have yet to be called. Still, things are taking on a rather rosy hue for the GOP: Republicans need to win just eight more races to maintain their majority in the Lower Chamber, while Democrats would need to win 20. Republicans had just a four-seat majority prior to Election Night and are hoping to widen that gap; such a slim majority stalled lawmaking processes and invited party infighting. 

Blanket Republican control of the White House and Congress would be a dream for President-elect Donald Trump, who has grand visions for his second term. Trump is looking forward to Jan. 20 and Inauguration Day as his transition team considers candidates for jobs in his second administration.

Trump took those first steps on Thursday by tapping his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, to serve as his chief of staff. Wiles, known in Trump World as “the ice maiden,” will be the first woman in American history to hold the position. Trump credits Wiles with helping him “achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history.”