President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made a round of calls to Republican and Democratic leadership Tuesday evening, offering them congratulations on their respective House and Senate victories.
“Tonight, President Trump called Leader Mitch McConnell to congratulate him on the historic senate gains. He also spoke with Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
[New: Trump suggests GOP might help Pelosi become speaker: ‘She has earned this great honor!’]
The president also made calls to Republicans who snagged crucial Senate and gubernatorial victories.
“The President called to congratulate Rick Scott, Mike DeWine, Kevin Cramer, Josh Hawley, Brian Kemp, and Ron DeSantis. Lastly, the President talked to Sen. Chuck Schumer. He and the Vice President will continue to make calls tonight and tomorrow,” Sanders said.
Trump labeled the 2018 midterm elections a “tremendous success” as votes were still being counted Tuesday.
“Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” Trump tweeted late Tuesday evening.
Democrats need to pick up 23 seats in order to take control of the House, which most major polling houses pegged as a “more than likely” scenario heading into Election Day. The current House electoral map has 202 seats locked in for Democrats and 194 for Republicans, which leaves 39 races, considered “tossups,” for either party to snag.
As of 12: 38 a.m., Democrats claimed 190 seats, while Republicans claimed 175. Fox News and CNN both projected Democrats would take control of the House of Representatives, even as votes were still being counted Tuesday. Either party needs to clinch 218 seats to claim the majority in the lower chamber.
Republicans are on track to increase their slim 51-seat majority in the Senate, picking up key seats in Indiana and Missouri.
