For the first time, two Democratic politicians, Lisa Blunt Rochester (left) and Angela Alsobrooks (right), will have two black women represented in the Senate.Image: trapezoid
After Donald Trump was elected as the 47th President of the United States, Congress became the focus. Republicans have won the Senate, but House races are still ongoing.
Donald Trump will become the next President of the United States. This means that Republicans have once again taken over the highest office in the United States after four years.
But Republicans could also win the sole majority in Congress, the two chambers of Congress that comprise the Senate and House of Representatives. That would allow the Trump administration to give it a go.
An overview of the most important decisions of both chambers to date.
Senate
For a party to gain a majority in the Senate (equivalent to the Swiss Federal Council), it needs 51 seats. In yesterday's election, the Republicans took three seats from the Democrats, giving them a 52-seat majority.
Shortly after midnight (local time), Republicans achieved a decisive breakthrough in the Senate, with Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska taking on independent challenger Dan Osborn. Defended his seat in the competition.
Fisher (right) defends his seat against Osborne (left)Image: trapezoid
Ohio
Republicans scored an important victory in the race for Ohio's Senate seat, with Bernie Moreno defeating Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown.
Moreno (right) takes the seat from Brown (left)Image: trapezoid
west virginia
Republican Jim Justice won the Democratic seat. Democratic candidate Glenn Elliott has no chance.
Justice (right) takes the seat from Elliott (left).Image: trapezoid
Montana
Democratic incumbent Jon Tester had to concede defeat to Republican challenger Tim Sheehy.
Sheehy (right) takes over the seat from Tester (left)Image: trapezoid
Warren, Sanders and Cruz re-elected
A total of 34 of the 100 Senate seats are on the ballot in this election, with 11 seats considered to be particularly hotly contested. Prominent senators from both parties successfully defended their titles.
For example, Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, and Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, were re-elected.
Historic Innovation in the Senate: Two black women — Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland — will attend together for the first time.
House of Representatives
Races for the House of Representatives (the Swiss equivalent of the National Assembly) remain open. The count could take days or even weeks.
Democrats hope to gain majority in House and current House of Representatives by picking up just a few seats Republicans hold 220 to 212 seats break in. The results of several games are still up in the air.
It's entirely possible that the House of Representatives could fall to Democrats. If that happens, it would be the first simultaneous but opposite “swapping” of the two houses of Congress in a long time. The fragmentation of power has led to political blockades between the House and Senate, making effective legislation more difficult.
Prominent MPs defend mission
Some prominent representatives from both parties in the House have already been re-elected, including Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as Republican hardliners Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor. Green. Current House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, also retained his seat.
First transgender woman in Congress
Sarah McBride is the first transgender woman to serve in the House of Representatives. McBride won the only seat in a traditionally Democratic voting state on the East Coast.
Sarah McBride becomes the first transgender woman in Congress.Image: trapezoid
Material from SDA and DPA news agencies
Former U.S. diplomat from Switzerland explains election observer duties
Video: Watson
You may also be interested in:
According to the latest results released by the United States, Donald Trump was successfully elected and will be re-elected as President of the United States. You can find an overview of all results here.
The American people have until November 5 to vote. A day later, shortly before noon Swiss time, it became clear: Donald Trump will move back into the Oval Office for the next four years. But some members of the Senate and House of Representatives were also re-elected. Here you can get an overview of all the important data about the US elections: