The ability of the next president of the United States to govern and implement his political agenda will depend largely on which party wins control of both houses of Congress. If the president's party controls both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it will be much easier to pass legislation. Here are some key races that could tip the scales for Kamala Harris's Democrats or Donald Trump's Republicans
SENATE
Democrats currently have the slimmest majority in the 100-seat U.S. Senate, with 47 senators and four independents who typically vote with them, creating a 51-to-49 advantage. Tuesday's vote will be for 34 seats. The Republican Party is certain to replace at least one seat - that of Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a convert to independent who is not seeking re-election. Popular Republican Governor Jim Justice is expected to replace him. Any other result would give Republicans control of the House.
Montana
In this state that voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, incumbent Democratic Rep. John Tester - the only senator who is also a working farmer - is in a complicated battle to keep his seat. He faces off against Republican Tim Sheehy, a retired Navy "seal" turned aerospace CEO who currently leads in the polls. Sheehy faces charges of lying about being wounded in combat.
Ohio
Incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown, 71, has been an Ohio senator since 2007. He's hoping for another six-year team, but that state also voted for Trump in the last two presidential elections. Brown is running against Republican Bernie Moreno, a 57-year-old former car salesman who was born in Columbia. The outcome of the race is unclear. Brown campaigned hard for abortion rights after voters in 2022 voted for access to the procedure in this generally conservative state.
Pennsylvania
Bob Casey Jr, the incumbent local Democratic leader, is running for re-election. Most polls show Casey with a slight lead over Republican businessman David McCormick, who has spoken at several Trump rallies, including in Butler, where a gunman tried to kill the former president in July.
Michigan
Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow is retiring, meaning this is an open seat. Democrats expect Elissa Slotkin, a 48-year-old former CIA analyst, to keep the seat under party control. She's running against former Congressman Mike Rogers, once an FBI agent, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. In recent polls, Slotkin leads, but her lead is within the margin of error.
Wisconsin
In this key state, 62-year-old Democrat Tammy Baldwin is running for a third term in the Senate. In 2013, she became the first openly lesbian senator in history. Baldwin has a slight lead over Republican rival Eric Hovde in most polls, but that lead is also largely within the margin of error.
Texas and Nebraska
While most Senate seats are in Democratic hands, Republicans are also defending several hard-fought seats. In Texas, veteran legislator Ted Cruz is running against Democrat Colin Allred, a former NFL player. A Cruz loss would be devastating for Republicans. In Nebraska, independent Dan Osborne is seeking victory against incumbent Republican Deb Fischer, who has served two terms in the Senate.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The House of Representatives is currently controlled by Republicans. There are ample candidates for all 435 seats, and House members serve two-year terms. The magic number for control is 218 seats. To reach that bar, Democrats need to do well in New York and California. In New York, a small red wave passed in the 2022 midterm elections, when Democrats lost five seats they hope to win back this time around, but the race is tight. | BGNES
