McConnell admits Senate control up in the air as vote count continues and key races remain in doubt
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell doesn’t know if he’s a quarterback or a defensive lineman in the U.S. Senate.
The powerful Republican from Kentucky who won re-election Tuesday night conceded that it wasn’t clear Wednesday whether Republicans would keep control of the crucial chamber with several races still uncalled.
“I don’t know whether I’m going to be the defensive coordinator or the offensive coordinator,” Sen. McConnell (R-Ky.) said.
Both Senate races in battleground Georgia looked likely to go to run-offs in January, races that could potentially determine control of the Senate.
Republicans held a 53-47 majority going into the election.
Democrats flipped Senate seats in Colorado and Arizona. Republicans won back a seat in Alabama from Democrats.
Endangered GOP incumbents Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) won reelection.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) led along with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), although many ballots remained uncounted in Maine.
McConnell won his own race in a romp and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) turned back a closely watched challenge to win another term.
In battleground Michigan, Sen. Peters (D-Mich.) trailed challenger John James, but the Democrat was rapidly making up ground as mail-in ballots are added to the count.