Democrats’ prospects for winning a Senate majority dim
Democrats’ prospects for gaining control of the Senate further dimmed Wednesday as Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine became the latest GOP incumbent to beat back a challenger.
Collins, who polls suggested was on track to lose on Election Day, successfully fended off a fierce challenge from Democratic Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon to win a fifth term in office. The race was one of the most closely watched in the country — as well as the most expensive in the state’s history — and was a seat Democrats had believed they could flip.
“Let me say what an extraordinary honor it is to represent the great state of Maine and to know that I will have the opportunity to serve all of Maine for the next six years,” Collins said in brief remarks Wednesday, adding, “I feel that this is an affirmation of the work that I’m doing in Washington.”
Gideon thanked her supporters and said that “regardless of the result, we built a movement that will help us make progress for years to come.”
But that movement fell short in Maine and across the map as Election Day stretched into Wednesday.
Republicans held a 53-47 majority heading into Election Day. The Democrats needed a net gain of four seats, or three seats and the White House, to take control.
But Democrats faced disappointment as Republicans retained their seats in one race after another, offsetting Democratic gains.
The Dems picked up must-win seats in Colorado and Arizona, where former Gov. John Hickenlooper and former astronaut Mark Kelly ousted Republican incumbents U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and U.S. Sen. Martha McSally, respectively.
But Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones lost to Republican former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville in Alabama, and then Gideon fell short in Maine. Key races in North Carolina and Michigan remained undecided Wednesday evening. And at least one Georgia Senate race headed for a runoff in January.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who himself won re-election in Kentucky on Tuesday, said that while Republicans still face challenges, “We had, overall, I think a better election than most people thought we were going to have.”
But with neither party able to claim a majority on Wednesday and the race for the White House still undecided, McConnell said, “I don’t know whether I’m going to be the majority leader or the minority leader. I’ve been both, the majority’s better.”
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson said both parties are going to need to do some soul searching going forward.
“There wasn’t a Democratic wave,” Ferson said. “There was passion around the race but not the issues.”
Herald wire services contributed to this report.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/34VAapI
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