The Republicans have regained control of the Senate, until now in the hands of the Democrats, further strengthening the confidence which reigns Wednesday in the camp of Donald Trump.
American voters also vote to elect Congress, the legislative branch of the United States which sits on Capitol Hill, which brings together the Senate and the House of Representatives, a major issue in parallel with the presidential election. Americans vote every two years to elect members of the House of Representatives and renew a third of the Senate. Control of the House of Representatives is not yet known.
Success in West Virginia and Ohio
The US Senate has 100 seats – two per state – and 34 of them were up for vote during the November 5 election. The Democrats had the daunting task of having to defend two-thirds of them, a real challenge given their narrow majority of 51 seats to 49.
The Senate swing was made possible thanks to two electoral successes, in West Virginia and Ohio. In the first state, Governor Jim Justice, supported by Donald Trump, came first against Democrat Glenn Elliott. In the second state, Republican Bernie Moreno won on the wire against Democrat Sherrod Brown, in office since 2007.
Counting could take days for House of Representatives
For the first time in its 235-year history, the Senate will have two black women: Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester, two Democrats, will represent Maryland and Delaware respectively in this male-dominated chamber.
Upper house of Congress, the Senate votes on federal laws, just like the House of Representatives, but also has very important exclusive powers, notably in the appointment or dismissal of key figures of the executive, or in the confirmation of federal magistrates.
The 435 seats in the House of Representatives were also up for renewal on November 5, but the count could take days.
Leading race
In the race for the presidency, Trump has already won two decisive states, Georgia and North Carolina according to American media projections, in his duel against Kamala Harris. The wait continues in the five other states likely to swing the outcome of the election, while other states, where there was no suspense, have delivered their verdicts.
For the moment, Donald Trump is in the lead with 243 voters, compared to 194 for Kamala Harris.
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