Sen. Raphael Warnock’s (D-Ga.) re-election in a runoff Tuesday gives Democrats an outright 51-49 majority in the Senate, ending two years of a 50-50 power share where Democrats held a practical advantage only because Vice President Kamala Harris could break a tie. For two years, the parties have evenly split committee memberships with Democrats in charge of the gavels.
Starting in January, Democrats will have a little more advantage in Senate committees, a counter to the tight House majority Republicans will hold. House Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will lead discussions on the majority and minority roles, but he hasn’t gotten into that yet.
“51!” Schumer tweeted Tuesday night after the major news organizations called the race for Warnock.
Army National Guard photo by Spc. Rydell Tomas