Republicans seize control of US House with narrow margin

Mitch McConnell was re-elected as Republican leader, fending off a challenge from Senator Rick Scott

Biden congratulated his Republican opponents and said he was willing to work with them and serve the American people

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gives the thumbs up as he emerges from the Old Senate Chamber in the US Capitol in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 3:35am, 17 Nov 2022Updated: 11:25am, 17 Nov 2022

Top US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell held off a challenge to his leadership on Wednesday as some of Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress lashed out at senior Republicans and their party squeaked out a narrower-than-expected House majority in the midterm election.

McConnell fended off the first challenge in his nearly 16-year reign as party chief, after Senator Rick Scott tried to unseat him as minority leader, contending that the “DC swamp” was to blame for the party’s inability to win a Senate majority.

That bid failed, even after Trump had repeatedly called for McConnell’s ouster and promoted Scott as a replacement. McConnell drew Trump’s ire by recognising Democrat Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Trump, who launched his own 2024 White House candidacy on Tuesday, falsely claims he lost because of fraud.

“I’m not, in any way, offended by having an opponent or having a few votes in opposition,” an elated-looking McConnell told reporters at a news conference after the vote.

Despite Republican hopes for a “red wave” of support in the November 8 elections, they failed to reverse Democrats’ razor-thin Senate majority. They won a narrow House majority, having won the 218 seats needed, with eight still uncalled. Democrats have won 209, according to projections by Edison Research.