US Midterm elections results: Republicans likely to capture majority  

The Republicans appear to be ahead of the Democrats to capture a majority in both, the US House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house), so far. The counting is underway. According to the latest update, Republicans managed to take 199 of 371 House seats, 172 for Democrats. With polls closed across most of the country, Republicans had flipped five Democratic seats in the US House, Edison Research projected, the very number needed to capture a majority and cripple Biden’s legislative agenda, reported Times of India. The results will decide the composition of the US Congress — the federal legislature.

Significance

If the Republicans win the House, they could impede legislation making it difficult for Democrats to move forward with their agenda. The outcome will act as a litmus test for Biden and lay the groundwork for the 2024 presidential elections — which could see the return of Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump.

Congressional race: Republicans surged ahead of Democrats

Republican Todd Young was re-elected to US Senate from Indiana, fellow party leader Sarah Huckabee Sanders won as the governor in Arkansas, while Republican John Boozman will return to the Senate from Arkansas. Republican Gordon won his second term as the governor of Wyoming and fellow Republican Phil Scott was re-elected as Vermont’s governor.

‘Republicans could win five seats’

According to Edison Research, the Republicans could win five seats held by the Democrats — the required number for the former to gain a majority in the House, whose all 435 seats went to polls. Among candidates in the fray for a re-election, Democrat Charles Schumer won the Senate seat from New York while Republican John Thune claimed back his Senate seat from South Dakota.

Democrats win Pennsylvania

Democrat candidate John Fetterman defeated celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz of the Republican Party to clinch the first seat in the Senate from Pennsylvania, which was earlier held by Republican Pat Toomey. On the other side, incumbent Senator Mike Lee of the Republican Party retained his seat from Utah, where the Democrats hadn’t fielded any candidate but endorsed independent Evan McMullin.

Shri Thanedar 1st Indian-American to win Michigan

Four Indian-American politicians from Democratic Party were elected to the US House of Representatives and many others won across the country to state legislatures in the highly polarised midterm elections, according to NDTV. Indian-American entrepreneur-turned-politician and Democrat Shri Thanedar became the first Indian American to win the Congressional elections from Michigan. Shri Thanedar, 67, currently represents the third district in the Michigan House.

(With inputs from agencies)