In a night of upsets and firsts, Democrats secured control of the House while Republicans maintained a strong hold on the Senate.
Good Wednesday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today.
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• Elections ended Tuesday night with Democrats securing the House and Republicans maintaining control of the Senate. Democratic wins gave the party the power it sought to investigate the president .
• With a House run by Democrats and a Senate by Republicans, President Trump may now have to choose between escalating partisan warfare and reaching across party lines as a political strategy .
• During these midterms, women stepped up as candidates, voters, activists and volunteers in ways that could reshape the nation’s political landscape. Read more about them.
• In an election that largely became a referendum on Mr. Trump, Representative Kevin Cramer ousted North Dakota’s incumbent Democratic senator, Heidi Heitkamp, flipping a seat that was vital to Republican efforts to hold the Senate .
• Pennsylvania voters, who went for Mr. Trump two years ago, swerved in the other direction Tuesday, handing Democrats key victories and swelling the party’s share of the state’s House delegation .
• Even after record-breaking fund-raising for the Senate race in Texas, Beto O’Rourke could not overcome Ted Cruz, who narrowly won after a dramatic campaign .
• Voters got to weigh in on key issues through more than 150 ballot initiatives last night, including criminal justice overhauls and health care concerns. Read about some of the initiatives.
• Americans turned out in huge numbers in both Democratic- and Republican- leaning counties. In some places, the number of voters was up by double-digit percentages.
• Democrats wrested control of governorships from Republicans in seven states, including Wisconsin, where they ousted Scott Walker, and Kansas, a surprise victory in a longtime Republican stronghold .
• In a fierce House race, Andy Barr defeated one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent challengers, Amy McGrath, in Kentucky. Here’s more on the Republican win.
• In a big win for the Republican Party, Josh Hawley won out over Senator Claire McCaskill in Missouri. The victory assured Republican control of the Senate.
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Today’s On Politics briefing was compiled by Margaret Kramer and Isabella Grullón Paz in New York.
Check back later for On Politics With Lisa Lerer, a nightly newsletter exploring the people, issues and ideas reshaping the political world.
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