Washington, 6 November 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Republicans have secured a majority in the US Senate, US broadcasters reported on Tuesday, after flipping seats in Ohio and West Virginia.

The Ohio race was seen as close but essential for the Democrats to keep the Senate. With 89% of the votes in, CNN reported that Republican Bernie Moreno had 50.6% of the vote compared to 46.3% for Democrat Sherrod Brown, who has held the seat since 2007.

The West Virginia flip was expected as Joe Manchin, who was elected as a Democrat in 2018, retired and the state is dominated by Republican voters. Jim Justice will be the new senator.

Republicans also kept hold of their seat in Nebraska, with incumbent Debra Fisher winning yet another term. She has been in office since 2013.

Senate watchers are still eyeing the Montana race, where Democratic incumbent Jon Tester, a Montana native, has been consistently lower in the polls than his Republican rival, Minnesota-born Tim Sheehy. Tester's campaign was largely based on his Montana roots and portrayed Sheehy as a wealthy out-of-stater who is making Montana less affordable.

The state, however, is a traditional Republican stronghold and most polls show Tester losing but it is too early to tell. CNN reported with nearly 30% of the vote counted that Sheehy was leading with 50.5% to Tester's 47.9%.

In most of the other states the parties maintained their positions, either by electing an incumbent or replacing an outgoing senator with another party candidate.

Still, some commentators are predicting that the Republicans could end up with as much as a 55-seat majority in the 100-member chamber, in which each state - regardless of size - send two senators to Washington. There are also tight races in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Mitch McConnell, the current minority leader and former majority leader, has said he will not seek a leadership position in the new Congress. The current majority leader is Democrat Chuck Schumer, who would likely move to minority leader if the Republicans took control.