U.S. Democrats surpass 250 House seats ... biggest landslide in 18 years

【Financial News, New York—Lee Byung-chul, Correspondent】The U.S. Democratic Party secured at least 250 seats in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, scoring its biggest landslide since 2008. By successively recapturing even traditional Republican strongholds, Democrats further strengthened their grip on Congress. Democratic candidates are also leading in closely contested races in Alaska, Mississippi and elsewhere in the Senate, raising the likelihood of further seat gains.
According to The Associated Press (AP) and other outlets on the 5th (local time), Democrats increased their House total to at least 250 seats based on additional vote counts released that day. That is the largest number of seats in about 20 years, since the 2008 election in which former President Barack Obama was elected. At the time, Democrats took control of both chambers riding the Obama wave.
Democrats continued their winning streak, taking Republican seats in Arizona, Virginia and Colorado as well. Republicans recaptured one Democratic seat in Tennessee, where districts had been redrawn, but failed to reverse the overall trend of defeat.
Democrats are also hoping for further victories in the Senate. In Mississippi, Democratic candidate Scott Colom, a former prosecutor, is leading incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by at least 1,700 votes. The margin, which had been only a few dozen votes the previous day, widened with additional counting.
However, the possibility of a legal dispute has also emerged after Hyde-Smith’s camp asked election officials to preserve the ballots. Mail-in and provisional ballots that have yet to be counted also remain factors.
In Alaska, Democratic candidate Mary Peltola is leading incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan by hundreds of votes. President Trump voiced dissatisfaction with the election results, arguing that votes cast for other candidates should be transferred to Sullivan.
If no candidate wins a majority in Alaska, additional counting under the ranked-choice voting system will take place on the 18th. The remaining mail-in ballots could also work in Democrats’ favor.
At least 20 House districts have yet to declare a winner. If Democrats win additional races in the remaining closely contested districts, their seat total is expected to rise further.




[email protected] Lee Byung-chul, Correspondent Reporter