Fox News Decision Desk projects GOP takes back Senate majority in devastating blow to Dems
The Fox News Decision Desk projected that Republicans will take back control of the Senate in 2025 once the 119th Congress is sworn in. The GOP officially won enough Senate seats in the 2024 elections to take the majority back from the Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has led the upper chamber since 2021. Republicans had a significantly more favorable map in terms of which Senate seats were up for election this cycle than the Democrats. CHECK OUT OUR FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB HERE The Republicans up for re-election were all in relatively safe states, and the party was all but guaranteed a win in West Virginia to replace outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va. With a West Virginia win and retaining all incumbents who were up for re-election, the GOP would be at 50 members already. Democrats were in a much more difficult position, expected to lose Manchin’s seat and having to fight a tight battle for outgoing Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s Arizona Senate seat. HOW GOP, DEM SENATORS ARE USING 2024 CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO LOBBY FOR CONFERENCE INFLUENCE At the same time, several incredibly vulnerable Senate Democrats just so happened to be up for re-election this cycle, including Montana’s Jon Tester and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, in red-voting states, and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, in presidential battleground states. If that weren’t enough, the seat of outgoing Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., was also at severe risk of going red. TOP REPUBLICANS PROBE BIDEN ADMIN ON AFGHAN NATIONALS’ ALLEGED ELECTION DAY TERRORIST PLOT Democrats only had a 51-member majority over their Republican counterparts, who had a 49-person conference. The party could not afford to lose practically any races in the 2024 elections, given their many vulnerabilities. What made the 2024 elections even more difficult for Democrats to hang onto the majority was the sharp decrease in split-ticket voting. In several states, the races were very likely to be decided by the winner of the presidential race, as voters were expected to pick one party and vote for candidates in that column down the ballot. ‘ILL-FATED EFFORT’: MCCONNELL WAS ‘FURIOUS’ AT RICK SCOTT’S 2022 LEADER BID, BOOK SAYS When Republicans vote for their new leader this month, they’ll also be selecting the next person to control the Senate floor after Schumer. The new GOP leader will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. The newly elected Republican senators will participate in a secret ballot. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News Decision Desk projects Republican Deb Fischer holds Senate seat despite independent challenge
The Fox News Decision Desk projected that incumbent Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., will win re-election and successfully fend off a challenge from an independent candidate. Independent candidate Dan Osborn, a union leader and mechanic, sought to unseat the senator, accusing her of representing lobbyist interests rather than those of Nebraskans. No Democrat candidate was nominated to run in the Senate race. SOROS-LINKED DARK MONEY GROUP PROPS UP NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN KEY SENATE RACE Fischer was first elected to the Senate in 2012 and re-elected in 2018. With her latest win, she will serve a third term in the upper chamber. Some of the issues listed on Osborn’s campaign website revolved around supporting veterans and workers and legalizing marijuana. He does not support any federal limit on abortion, per his website, and he backs what he called “reasonable gun safety measures,” but reinforced his support for the Second Amendment. His candidacy had presented late warnings for Republicans, as top handicappers acknowledged some movement and loosening of the GOP’s grasp on the election. NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT SETS UP ABORTION SHOWDOWN ON ELECTION DAY WITH COMPETING BALLOT MEASURES Both the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics opted to shift their ratings of the race from “Solid” or “Safe” Republican to “Likely Republican.” While Fischer and Republicans still enjoyed an advantage, the race was placed alongside that of Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., in each rating system, which was understood to be fairly competitive. HOW A LONE NEBRASKA DISTRICT COULD DECIDE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Sabato’s Crystal Ball also ranked the Nebraska Senate race in the same category as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, but Cook had moved the Texas match-up to a more competitive placement. However, some of Osborn’s financial backers led to controversy late in the race. The candidate was supported heavily by two outside super PACs, which both received significant contributions from a controversial dark money group called the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which is operated by left-wing Washington, D.C., political consulting firm, Arabella Advisers. The fund doesn’t reveal its donors, but according to the website for billionaire George Soros’ group, the Open Society Foundations, it has granted more than $75 million to the Sixteen Thirty Fund between 2016 and 2022. One of the PACs that supported Osborn had also received monetary support from Democratic megadonor and Vice President Kamala Harris supporter Reid Hoffman, who co-founded LinkedIn. Osborn reportedly pledged to create an Independent caucus if elected, rather than caucusing with Democrats or Republicans in the Senate. All the independents currently serving in the upper chamber caucus with the Democrats. Fischer’s win prevented any potential threats to the Republicans re-taking the Senate majority in 2025. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News projects Trump to win key state of North Carolina
Fox News Decision Desk projects former President Trump will win North Carolina. Trump will be awarded the battleground state’s 16 electoral votes, which are key in the path to the presidency. The former president won North Carolina in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. North Carolina faced potential challenges to early voting after Hurricane Helene made a deadly sweep across the southeast, having the most severe impact on western red counties that historically vote Republican. HERE’S HOW EACH SWING STATE CONDUCTS A RECOUNT OF BALLOTS Despite the storm, there were successful efforts to ensure voting access for those in the impacted western counties across the state. APPEALS COURT RULES AGAINST GOP IN CASE CHALLENGING 225K VOTER REGISTRATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA The North Carolina Elections Board passed a bipartisan emergency resolution that reformed the state’s early voting process in 13 counties, including changing or adding voting sites and maintaining their availability, extending the hours and adding or reducing when any site is open within the early voting period, according to the election board. North Carolina saw record turnout on the first day of early voting in the state, Oct. 17, when 353,000 registered voters cast their ballots. North Carolina is one of several swing states key to winning the White House. The others are Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Most vulnerable House Republican projected to lose NY swing seat
First-term Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., is projected to lose his re-election bid in a blow to Republicans’ effort to keep the House majority. Williams was widely seen as the most vulnerable House Republican incumbent this cycle. While his loss was not unexpected, it could signal the tide is turning against the Congressional GOP. He was defeated by New York state Sen. John Mannion, a moderate Democrat, according to Associated Press projections. As of late Tuesday evening, when AP called the race, House Democrats were projected to win a total 108 seats so far, compared to 164 projected victories for Republicans. CLUB FOR GROWTH POURS $5M INTO TIGHT HOUSE RACES AS GOP BRACES FOR TOUGH ELECTION House Democrats’ campaign arm and its allies poured an enormous amount of resources into flipping the seat from red to blue. Williams, who was already expected to face a competitive race for re-election, was handed worse odds after New York’s congressional map was redrawn earlier this year. New York’s 22nd Congressional District lies in the central part of the Empire State and includes the cities of Syracuse and Utica. It was also one of 16 districts won by House Republicans in 2022 after President Biden won the White House race in 2020. Williams won the seat in 2022 after former Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., who voted to impeach Trump, retired. SPEAKER JOHNSON RIPS ‘LACK OF LEADERSHIP’ IN BIDEN ADMIN’S HELENE RESPONSE: ‘ALARMED AND DISAPPOINTED’ The Navy officer-turned-truffle farmer ran his campaign as a traditional conservative and endorsed Trump in January. Mannion is a former teacher who had the endorsement of New York state’s teachers union. Both candidates have been accused of acting aggressively toward aides, however. An open anonymous letter signed only by “Concerned Mannion Staff” said his New York state Senate office was a toxic work environment “including mistreatment, harassment, and retaliation.” Mannion told local outlet CNY that the accusations were a “false political attack.” DEMOCRAT POL CHASED AWAY IN AOC’S ‘RED LIGHT’ DISTRICT AFTER BACKING POLICE CRACKDOWN ON OPEN-AIR PROSTITUTION A subsequent investigation commissioned by the state Senate cleared Mannion. Meanwhile, a video captured of Williams at a holiday event in late 2023 showed him telling his former chief of staff, “You f— with my family, I’ll end every relationship that you have.” Williams told Politico at the time the confrontation occurred because the ex-staffer allegedly tried to blackmail Williams using his daughter’s OnlyFans account. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Delhi-NCR AQI: No relief from pollution, Delhi air quality remains ‘very poor’
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 358 as of 8 am today.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz declares victory over Democrat Colin Allred
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker and civil rights lawyer from Dallas, repeatedly broke fundraising records in his campaign, raising more than $80 million by mid-October.
Following a year of partisan fights, Election Day runs smoothly across Texas
A mostly quiet Election Day in Texas came after a series of pitched partisan battles over how elections should be conducted.
Republican Christi Craddick declares victory for Railroad Commission, the state’s oil regulatory agency
The three-member board oversees Texas’ oil and gas industry. The agency has faced criticism over safety concerns linked to fracking, well blowouts and groundwater protection.
Speaker Mike Johnson wins re-election to House in Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District
House Speaker Mike Johnson was declared the winner Tuesday night in his effort to keep Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District solidly red, according to The Associated Press. The four-term congressman was first elected in 2016 but gained prominence as a leader in the GOP after he was elected by his fellow members of Congress last year to replace former GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California. Johnson was previously vice chair of the House GOP conference. Johnson’s victory Tuesday in his reliably red district came with little resistance. Democrats did not enter a candidate in the race. Joshua Morott, a Republican substitute teacher with little experience in politics, was Johnson’s only challenger. ‘NO SUCH PROMISE’: JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS ‘DISHONEST’ Johnson’s district sits in the northwest corner of the state and is home to Shreveport, Louisiana’s third most populous city. Despite lacking any true competition, Johnson still led his party’s fundraising efforts this election cycle. He brought in more than $19 million for his own campaign and $8 million for other GOP candidates, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. Louisiana has been at the center of a redistricting battle, and earlier this year the state’s congressional map was redrawn to include two Black majority districts. The state is still facing legal challenges over whether the new maps unfairly discriminate against voters. SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON PREDICTS A ‘DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT’ FOR TRUMP IN THE 2024 ELECTION Johnson’s future as GOP leader remains uncertain even if Republicans maintain control of the House after Tuesday’s election. Johnson has said he wants to continue in the leadership role if Republicans keep the House. However, he has not indicated anything about his plans if they do not. People close to Johnson have said he would likely step down, according to NBC News. Even if Republicans keep the House, a handful of them have signaled they either will not support Johnson to remain speaker or are unsure whether they would support him. In addition to his duties as speaker, Johnson serves on the House Judiciary Committee and is chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government.
Fox News Decision Desk projects Bernie Moreno will flip Ohio Senate seat for GOP
The Fox News Decision Desk projected Republican businessman Bernie Moreno will win his race for Senate in Ohio against Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown. Brown, who was considered one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats, is projected to lose in a race that will have significant implications on which party takes control of the Senate. Brown, 71, is a native of Mansfield, Ohio, who has held political office since 1975 and is the chair of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Moreno, 57, is a Cleveland area businessman who was born in Colombia and moved to the United States at the age of five. Brown, facing an uphill battle running as a Democrat in a state that Trump won by eight points in 2020, attempted to distance himself from the Biden-Harris record by running ads touting his efforts at the border. Brown also declined to attend the Democratic National Convention, which drew criticism from Republicans. BIDEN’S ‘GARBAGE’ COMMENT SENDS DEM SENATORS SCRAMBLING IN KEY SWING STATE RACES: ‘STRONGLY DISAGREES’ Brown also has a close relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris, which the Moreno campaign honed in on. “Sherrod Brown and Kamala Harris conspired to pass the most liberal agenda in American history,” the Moreno campaign told Fox News Digital earlier this year. “Brown is in complete lockstep with Harris in her radical views and will help usher in the Green New Deal, Medicare for illegals, and tax hikes on the middle class.” LEAKED VIDEO EXPOSES DEM STAFFER ADMITTING ‘QUIET PART OUT LOUD’ IN FIERY TIRADE: ‘OPEN THE F—ING BORDER’ Moreno’s campaign often pointed out Brown’s long career in Washington, D.C., including his voting record that aligned with the Biden administration nearly 100% of the time. Brown blanketed the airwaves with ads hammering Moreno on his business record and allegiance to Trump, and painted him as a radical on the abortion issue. The Ohio senator has also framed himself on the campaign trail as someone who works with both parties to get things done. “Sherrod works for Ohio, which is why he’s stood up to presidents of both parties to block bad trade deals, worked with Republicans to make sure Border Patrol agents and law enforcement officers have the resources they need, and demanded the Biden administration crack down on Chinese solar products that undercut Ohio manufacturers,” the campaign told Fox News Digital earlier this year. Democrats held a 51-49 majority in the Senate going into election night, which includes independent senators who caucus with the Democrat Party. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub