The race for Senate seats is still being run
Credit: Bloomberg
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Joe Biden has won the US presidency but another important race rages on.
In the early stages, the Republican party appeared to maintain control of the United States Senate as they won key races in Iowa, Alabama and South Carolina.
However the Republican control of the Senate is looking increasingly under threat, after the Democrats flipped two seats, in Colorado and Arizona, bringing the Republicans and Democrats to 48 seats each — with 51 needed for a majority.
Georgia will prove to be crucial with two Senate race runoffs on January 5: one, between Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler (26 per cent) and Democrat Raphael Warnock (32.9 per cent), and the other between Republican Senator David Perdue (49.8 per cent) and Democrat Jon Ossoff (47.8 per cent).
To secure a majority, the Democrats need three seats – one of which they can now take as Mr Biden has won the presidency, as the vice president, Kamala Harris, has the power to cast the tie-breaking vote.
The battle for the United States Senate is also hugely significant for the future of the country.
But why is this the case? Read below to find out.
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What is it?
The Senate is the upper chamber of Congress, which has the power to ratify treaties, confirm senior government appointees and judges, as well as introducing legislation. The lower chamber of Congress is the House of Representatives, which has 435 members.
Every four years when the presidency is up for grabs, one third of the 100-member Senate and the entire House are up for election. This also happens in even-numbered years when there is not a presidential election.
Senators serve six-year terms and must be at least 30 years of age.
Prior to the election, the Senate was under Republican control, with the party enjoying a 53-47 majority, but the impending results could change this.
The most up-to-date figures project that the Republicans and Democrats (including independents) have both won 48 seats so far. Fifty-one is needed for a Senate majority.
Senate forecast
Why is it important?
The race between the Democrats and Republicans is tight this year — and the result could have great implications for whoever wins the presidency.
The party that controls the Senate will have power over the next president’s legislative agenda, cabinet officials and judicial appointments.
If Democratic nominee Joe Biden fails to gain the Senate, he could be left unable to pass legislation important to his presidency — on issues such as healthcare, climate change and immigration.
Likewise for Mr Trump, a Democrat-controlled Senate could stall some of his more conservative policies.
Until now a gridlock in the Senate has had a significant impact, leading to little progress on key issues including economic recovery during the coronavirus pandemic.
Democrats could win back the US Senate from Republicans
Where will the battle be decided?
So far, the Republicans have held onto a number of states considered competitive by Democrats — including North Carolina, Montana, and Iowa.
Republican Susan Collins has retained her Senate seat in Maine. The loss for Democrat Susan Gideon is a blow to the Democrats’ hopes to regain control of the Senate.
Under Maine’s ranked choice voting system, a candidate must have the majority of the vote to be declared the winner, otherwise second preferences are taken into consideration.
The Democrats managed to flip Arizona, with former astronaut Mark Kelly beating the incumbent Republican Martha McSally 52.5 per cent to 47.4 per cent.
Colorado also turned blue as Democrat John Hickenlooper won the senate vote by 53.9 per cent to 44 percent.
But the Democrats were not so successful in Alabama, as Republican Tommy Tuberville won the senate seat the Democrats had managed to capture during a special election in 2017.
The battle for the Senate may not be decided until January 5 with two runoffs in Georgia between Senator Kelly Loeffler (26 per cent) vs Democrat Raphael Warnock, and Republican Senator David Perdue (49.8 per cent) vs Democrat Jon Ossoff (47.8 per cent) (32.9 per cent).
Both Republican and Democrat candidates have failed to reach the required 50 per cent threshold to win the seats.
Who are the key players?
In Maine, long-term Republican Senator Susan Collins has been caught between voters who are unhappy she has not embraced Mr Trump and those who are disappointed she has not done more to stand up to him, giving the Democrats an opportunity. Despite these divisions, Collins succeeded in retaining her seat.
Over in Colorado first-term Republican Senator Cory Gardner suffered from the decline in Mr Trump’s popularity, for whom he has been considered a long-term ally, giving Democrat John Hickenlooper the win.
Arizona’s Republican candidate too is suffering from her connection to Mr Trump. Martha McSally lost to former astronaut Mark Kelly, in part due to Mr Trump’s alienation to Arizona’s growing suburban and Latino population.
In Michigan, Democrat Senator Gary Peters has a 49.8 per cent majority among the electorate, Republican John James’ has 48.3 per cent giving Peters the win.
And in of Alabama Senator Democrat Doug Jones lost to Republican Tommy Tuberville.
The appointment of Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court judge could have an impact
Credit: AFP
Who looks likely to win?
The Senate race was as close as the presidential election. Democrats may have won the presidency and kept the House majority, but the future of the Senate is far less certain.
As both parties currently hold 48 seats each, it is now too close to call the results of the Senate.
With more than 98 per cent of results currently announced in Georgia, Mr Biden is narrowly poised to win the state and will be the first Democrat to do so since Clinton in 1992.
But what would a Biden victory in Georgia mean for the Senate?
A blue Georgia would make it likely that the state would have to hold two runoffs for its seats in the Senate in January, and Republicans’ power in the chamber is under threat.
The Republicans looked likely to win a majority as they held on to key states such as Iowa, Montana and South Carolina. They had also managed to win back the Senate seat in Alabama from the Democrats.
The Democrats have managed to flip senate seats in Colorado and Arizona, though, they still currently fall short of the 51 seats needed to win a majority.
The appointment of Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court judge could also have an impact yet to be reflected by analysis.
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