Republicans seize control of US senate in mid-term elections

Mid-term elections in the US have left the Republicans in control of the senate, with a majority of 52 seats.

The much awaited victory came for the Republicans for the first time in eight years. The party saw a rise by seven in senate seats after claiming control of West Virginia, Arkansas, South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Iowa, and North Carolina, putting them above the 50 seats needed for a majority, and leaving democrats with just 45 seats.

The elections also saw the Republicans gain 13 seats in the House of Representatives, bringing them to 243, in comparison to the Democrats’ 175. 218 seats are needed for a majority. Republican numbers also increased to 31 governor places, in contrast with 15 Democrat places.

This election also saw a first black female Republican elected to congress. Mia Love, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, who won Utah’s fourth district, defeating Democrat Doug Owens by over 4, 000 votes.

Another first was 30-year-old Elise Stefanik, youngest woman ever elected into the House of Senate. She is also the first Republican to win New York’s 21^st congressional district in 21 years.

On Friday, US president Obama is scheduled to meet bipartisan leaders of congress at the White House to discuss the agenda of working together with the new elected members.

Rowan Frewin