Republicans win Senate majority, taking seats from Democrats in Ohio, West Virginia

Republicans on Tuesday took control of the Senate by winning seats from Democrats in Ohio and West Virginia. 

The GOP's first win came early in the night when Jim Justice, West Virginia's GOP governor, handily won the state's open Senate seat. The 73-year-old Justice won over Democrat Glenn Elliott, 68.8-to-27.7%, according to the Associated Press.  The seat was held by Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat who earlier this year became an independent. 

Republicans sealed the majority when Bernie Moreno ousted incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. 

Democrats control the 100-member chamber, 49 to 51, a number that includes four independents voting with them. They are Bernie Sanders, of Vermont; Angus King, of Maine;  Kyrsten Sinema, of Arizona; and Manchin – all of whom essentially vote with Democrats.

The Justice and Moreno wins will give Republicans in January a 51-50 majority.

That lead was secured when two incumbent Republican senators – Ted Cruz, in Texas, and Deb Fisher, in Nebraska – fended off tough Democratic challengers to retain their seats for the GOP majority.  

Republicans could add to their majority in Montana where Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is seeking a fourth term in the heavily Republican state. He was trailing GOP challenger Tim Sheehy by about 6 percentage points early on Election Day, according to the latest polling average from RealClearPolling. 

In other races: 

Indiana GOP Rep. Jim Banks is projected to win a Senate seat, keeping it for Republicans, and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is projected to keep his seat, the Associated Press has called.

Republican Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker was also projected to win his reelection, along with Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott, according to the Associated Press. 

The outlet also called races for Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy, in Connecticut; Elizabeth Warren, in Massachusetts; and Sheldon Whitehouse, in Rhode Island.

Newcomers Democrat Andy Kim won a Senate seat in New Jersey, and Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester won a Senate seat in Delaware. Kim in winning became the first Korean-American to serve in the upper chamber. 

Democrat Angela Alsobrooks defeated former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in their battle for a Democrat-held Senate seat i, and   Republican John Curtis will replace GOP Sen. Mitt Romney in Utah

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.