Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Fewer states than ever will have split-party Senate delegations
WaPo - Gift LinkVoters in Montana, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania — states that Donald Trump won on Nov. 5 — also voted for Republicans to take over Senate seats currently held by Democrats, helping Republicans secure control of the upper chamber.
After these flips, only Maine, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will send a split-party delegation of one Democrat and one Republican to the Senate. That is the lowest number since Americans began directly electing senators more than a century ago.
To retain their Senate majority, Democrats hoped that voters in red-trending states would stick with Democrats down the ballot. The party faced a brutal 2024 map, and the split-ticket phenomenon has largely dissipated in recent election cycles as states become increasingly divided along party lines.
Voters in six of the seven swing states did split their tickets, backing Trump and a Democrat for Senate. Pennsylvania was the only swing state that elected a Republican for Senate.
After these flips, only Maine, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will send a split-party delegation of one Democrat and one Republican to the Senate. That is the lowest number since Americans began directly electing senators more than a century ago.
To retain their Senate majority, Democrats hoped that voters in red-trending states would stick with Democrats down the ballot. The party faced a brutal 2024 map, and the split-ticket phenomenon has largely dissipated in recent election cycles as states become increasingly divided along party lines.
Voters in six of the seven swing states did split their tickets, backing Trump and a Democrat for Senate. Pennsylvania was the only swing state that elected a Republican for Senate.