Republicans seized control of the Senate in Tuesday’s voting, picking up at least two Democratic seats and protecting their own embattled lawmakers to end four years of Democratic control.
Senator Sherrod Brown, the Ohio Democrat who party leaders hoped could overcome the Republican tide in his solidly red state, was defeated in his bid for a fourth term by the luxury car dealer Bernie Moreno. Mr. Brown’s loss came after Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia easily won the slot opened up by the retirement of Senator Joe Manchin III, who served most of his career in the Senate as a Democrat before becoming an independent earlier this year.
The two losses reversed the 51-to-49 majority held by Democrats after Republican Senator Deb Fischer held off an unexpectedly steep challenge from Dan Osborn, who ran as an independent. Republicans, whose campaigns appeared to be benefiting from former President Donald J. Trump’s strength in battleground states, could pad their new majority given very tight races in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan and a Republican edge in Montana.
Top Republicans cheered their success, which will give them a leading role in shaping policy in the nation’s capital next year.
“Voters are trusting Senate Republicans with an extraordinary opportunity,” said Senator John Barrasso, the No. 3 Republican who was re-elected in his own race in Wyoming. “As a new Republican Senate majority, our focus will be to take on an agenda that reflects America’s priorities — lower prices, less spending, secure borders, and American energy dominance.”
The loss of the majority led by Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, was a major disappointment for Democrats who had hoped to navigate a narrow path to remaining in power. But the task of defending seats in states Mr. Trump had repeatedly carried proved too difficult.
Much of the focus of the fight for Senate control was on Ohio and Montana, two Democratic-held states that Mr. Trump carried 2016 and 2020 — and won handily again on Tuesday night.
Mr. Brown, a progressive Democrat with strong labor union ties, emphasized abortion rights and federal aid he helped secure for his state but Mr. Moreno fought back, hitting the Democrat on immigration and transgender rights. Mr. Brown also had to contend with Mr. Trump’s popularity in the state.
Senator Jon Tester, Democrat of Montana, was considered even more endangered than Mr. Brown, running in a Western state that has grown increasingly Republican since he was first elected in 2006, one where Mr. Trump won handily in 2016 and 2020 — and again on Tuesday night. His Republican opponent was Tim Sheehy, a decorated former Navy Seal and businessman who has come under scrutiny for conflicting stories about how he received a bullet wound in his arm.
Democrats did hold on to a seat in Maryland, where Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks defeated former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, becoming the first Black woman to represent the state in the Senate. In Delaware, Democratic Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is also Black, won an open seat, giving the Senate two Black women members for the first time.
In Indiana, Representative Jim Banks, a Republican and former leader of a House conservative faction, was easily elected to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Senator Mike Braun, a Republican who ran for governor and won. Mr. Banks was considered a rising star in the House but decided to try to join the Senate after he lost an internal G.O.P. election for a leadership post.
Senator Rick Scott of Florida, who is seeking to become the Republican Senate leader, was also re-elected, overcoming a Democratic challenge while Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who polls showed in a close race with Democratic Representative Colin Allred, also prevailed.
In Vermont, Senator Bernie Sanders, the 83-year-old independent and former presidential candidate aligned with Democrats, was elected to a fourth term.
Governor Justice, a former Democrat, was considered a shoo-in once he decided to jump in the race and Mr. Manchin announced he would not run.
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