Democrats keep control of House, NBC News projects, as Senate fight continues

WASHINGTON — Democrats will maintain control of the House of Representatives, NBC News projects, as the battle for the Senate majority continued Tuesday night.

Democrats, who were able to hold control of the House, have failed to pick up some of the Senate seats they were hoping to turn, narrowing their chance of taking control of the upper chamber from Republicans.

Democrats will pick up a Senate seat in Colorado as John Hickenlooper is projected by NBC News to unseat Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, marking the party's first gain.

Offsetting that gain, Republicans will pick up a seat in Alabama, where Republican Tommy Tuberville is projected to defeat Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, NBC News projects.

Inserting some uncertainty, the Georgia special election is headed to a runoff on January 5 between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, NBC News projects.

Some at-risk Republicans were able to hold their seats.

In the closely watched races, Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, were both re-elected, NBC News projected.

But Democrats have not foreclosed on their chances entirely.

In Arizona, the Democratic challenger Mark Kelly leads but NBC News rates it "too early to call."

The Senate races in Georgia's other contest and Maine are also rated as "too early to call."

The North Carolina race between Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democrat Cal Cunningham is rated "too close to call" by NBC News.

Democrats have largely focused their campaigns on protecting the Affordable Care Act and stepping up efforts to combat the coronavirus. Republicans have mostly focused on the economy and preventing a Democratic-led Senate that could pursue progressive legislation in a potential Joe Biden presidency.

Two top Republicans — Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas — will be re-elected, NBC News projects.

Republicans held open seats in Wyoming and Kansas with victories by their candidates Cynthia Lummis and Roger Marshall, respectively, according to NBC News projections.

Sen. Chris Coons D-Del., Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., en. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. will be re-elected, NBC News projects. All were heavily favored.

35 Senate seats up for grabs in battle for Senate control

Nov. 3, 202002:11

Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate chamber, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats to capture an outright majority. Of the 35 seats being decided by voters this year, 23 are currently Republican controlled and 12 are Democratic-held seats.

Alabama

Democrat Sen. Doug Jones surprised political pundits when he won the seat in a special election but unable to fend off retired football coach Tommy Tuberville in a deep-red state where the Republican is heavily favored.

Michigan is seen as the GOP's only other possible pickup opportunity, where Iraq war veteran John James is trying to unseat Peters, who is the favorite.

Republican Collins has served in the chamber for 24 years and faces the fight of her political life with a challenge from Democrat Sara Gideon, speaker of the state House.

Collins vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh became a rallying cry for Gideon, who has argued that Collins lost the independence she previously touted.

Republican Gardner lost to Hickenlooper, a popular former governor. Hickenlooper, who made a failed bid for the Democratic nomination for president, was popular in the state when he left office.

Republican McSally, who was appointed to fill the seat after the death of John McCain, faces off against Democratic former astronaut Kelly.

The closely-watched race was roiled by Republican Tillis catching Covid-19 and then his Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham getting caught sending romantic text messages to a woman who isn't his wife.

Republican Ernst defeated Democrat Theresa Greenfield in a neck-and-neck race that could be a bellwether for the majority.

Georgia voted in two Senate races.

Republican Sen. David Perdue faced an unexpectedly competitive challenge from Democrat Jon Ossoff.

The second race is a special election. GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed to the seat, will face Democrat Raphael Warnock in a runoff in January.

Republican Sen. Steve Daines faces down the state's Democratic governor Steve Bullock. After saying he wasn't interested in running for the Senate, Bullock changed his mind after a failed bid for the presidential nomination.

Graham defended his seat against Democratic opponent Harrison in a race that was unexpectedly been polling closely. Harrison smashed fundraising records, allowing him to advertise aggressively to unseat Graham, who has become a close ally and staunch defender of Trump.

Cornyn fended off an effort by Democrat MJ Hegar to capitalize on suburban shifts toward Democrats and blockbuster fundraising numbers.

Kentucky

McConnell defeated a challenge from Democrat Amy McGrath, a former fighter jet pilot who raised about $88 million.