Control of Congress remains unknown as Democrats beat midterm expectations

But it did not turn out that way and a day that had been expected to dawn with Democratic soul-searching was filled with Republican finger-pointing and recriminations instead.

The results of the most hotly contested Senate races were giving many Republicans heartburn on Wednesday. Biden had campaigned hard in Pennsylvania, the state of his birth, and was rewarded when John Fetterman, the lieutenant governor who suffered a stroke during the campaign, won a Senate race over Mehmet Oz, a celebrity doctor endorsed by Trump.

The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, expressed optimism about the election results in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Early exit polls suggested abortion rights had been a motivating factor for many voters casting ballots on Tuesday, despite earlier predictions that the issue would be overshadowed by economic concerns. One exit poll conducted by Edison Research found that 27% of voters named abortion as their top priority, compared to 31% who said the same of inflation.

Overall, the night shaped up poorly for election deniers and candidates endorsed by Donald Trump. Although dozens of incumbents who challenged the 2020 presidential results did win, election deniers in key gubernatorial and secretary of state races were on track for defeat.

The election results reportedly infuriated Trump, who is expected to announce another presidential campaign as early as next week. Even more worrisome for him, the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, who has been frequently named as a potential presidential candidate, easily cruised to re-election.