Republicans inch closer to Senate majority in early results

Democrats held a seat in Delaware, a state that President Joe Biden represented as a senator for 36 years, with a victory for fourth-term Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.

In Maryland, the Democrats retained a seat vacated by Ben Cardin, with Angela Alsobrooks beating the popular Republican Governor Larry Hogan.

They will become the first black female senators to represent their respective states.

Several other incumbent senators won an additional six-year term.

In Texas, Trump ally Ted Cruz fended off a robust challenge from former NFL player Colin Allred to win a third term.

Democrats had launched a concerted effort to beat Cruz but the party has not won a state-wide election in more than 30 years.

Other contests that would swing control of the upper chamber of Congress are taking place in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Montana, Michigan, Nevada, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin.

Both parties are also vying for control of the House, although the balance of power there will not be known for several days.

The vast majority of House elections are happening in “safe districts” – regions where one party is nearly certain to win. But a handful of other races in swing districts could determine who controls Washington DC.

House races that could swing the balance are taking place a wide variety of states, with closely watched elections happening in California, New York, Washington, Maine and Alaska.