Subscribe to receive The 45th newsletter in your inbox.

After eight years of Republican control, Democrats will likely win back the US House of Representatives following Tuesday's midterm elections. Democratic challengers have unseated Republicans in at least 17 closely watched House races so far, but hopes of a "blue wave" among Democrats did not eventuate, with Florida among the first states to prove decidedly strong for Republicans. 

After notching a series of Senate victories, Republicans are likely to expand their control over that chamber, flipping the states of Missouri, Indiana and North Dakota. Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas held off a surprisingly strong challenge from Democrat Beto O’Rourke.

By late evening in the United States, CNN, Fox News and NBC had all called the House for Democrats and the Senate for Republicans. Democrats are expected to use a majority in the House to launch subpoena-powered investigations into the president’s finances, Russian interference and administration ethics scandals.