Republicans achieved their goal of taking control of the House and securing a governing trifecta.
After election night on November 5, Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States following a fierce battle with Vice President Kamala Harris. By that Wednesday, he had secured more than 290 electoral votes, emerging victorious in key battleground states like North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. He also won the popular vote, marking the first time a Republican candidate has achieved such a victory since 2004, when George W. Bush won re-election against Democratic challenger John Kerry.
The GOP’s success didn’t stop with the presidency. In addition to securing the White House, Republicans regained control of the Senate and made significant strides toward reclaiming the House. With all results now in, here’s everything you need to know about the shifting congressional landscape.
Who Has Won Control of the House?
Republicans have gained control of the House, securing exactly the 218 seats needed, compared to the Democrats’ 208. The victory was sealed with key wins in Arizona, along with a late boost from California, where results were slow to arrive earlier on Wednesday.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election every two years, during midterm and presidential election cycles. This year, much of the focus was on states like New York and California, where Democrats were working to reclaim some of the approximately 10 seats Republicans have gained in recent years.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had previously expressed confidence that Republicans would retain control of the lower chamber. “The latest data and trends indicate that when all the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority, even though we faced a map with 18 Biden-won seats,” Johnson said in a statement.
However, with nine House races still uncalled, the final size of the Republicans’ majority remains to be seen.
How Did Republicans Win Control of the Senate?
In total, 34 Senate seats were up for election.
Democrats flipped two key seats in New York, defeating Representatives Marc Molinaro in the Hudson Valley and Brandon Williams in Syracuse. They also held onto two critical seats — one in Michigan and another in New Mexico — that Republicans had hoped to gain. However, with major wins in Ohio, Montana, and Texas, Republicans took control of the upper chamber.
Republican senators are expected to elect a new leader this week, as longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is stepping down after a record 18 years in the role.
Who Is the Next Senate GOP Leader?
Republican Senators John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, and Rick Scott of Florida were all vying for the top leadership spot in the U.S. Senate. However, in a closed-door vote on Wednesday, Thune was selected as the winner.
Ahead of the three-way election, Trump signaled his intention to approach the process aggressively, stressing the need for swift action and loyalty from whoever assumes the role.
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump said in a statement on X and Truth Social, adding that positions should be filled “IMMEDIATELY!”
Since a 2014 Supreme Court ruling restricted the president’s authority to make so-called recess appointments, the Senate has not allowed them. However, all three leadership candidates have indicated they may be open to revisiting the practice.
What Happens Next?
In this second Trump administration, a fully Republican-controlled House gives the president-elect greater freedom to push his agenda. Over the next two years, the House will face critical battles over government funding, tax policy, immigration, and corporate regulation.
Johnson and Senate GOP leaders have moved closer to Trump, leveraging his influence to strengthen their own positions as they align more closely with his “Make America Great Again” priorities. In a letter to his colleagues, Johnson used a football metaphor, declaring he’s “ready to take the field with all of you” to play “the biggest offense of our lives.”