(The Center Square) – Republicans are on track to control all three
   branches of government for the first time since former President Donald
   Trump took the nation by surprise with his win in 2016.

   Although many votes are left to be counted and we will not know the
   results for days and possibly weeks, analysts generally agree that
   Republicans are favored to take the U.S. House of Representatives.

   A big development broke Thursday evening when media outlets called the
   tight Pennsylvania Senate race in favor of Republican Dave McCormick,
   who narrowly beat incumbent Sen. Bob Casey.

   Republicans have now taken 53 seats in the Senate, winning four
   previously Democratic seats and securing the majority.

   The Senate conversation has quickly pivoted to who will serve as
   majority leader.

   “We have been given a mandate by the American people to support
   President Trump’s agenda and Make Washington WORK again,” Sen. Rick
   Scott, R-Fla., wrote on X. “I’m running to be the next Senate Majority
   leader to do just that.”

   Republican Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas
   are also taking a shot at the leadership spot.

   Polymarket, the betting market that predicted the presidential election
   with remarkable accuracy, shows Republicans have a 97% chance of
   winning control of the House.

   Media tracking and groups’ analysis vary on how many seats Republicans
   have secured.

   Real Clear Politics has Republicans with 212 seats, having picked up 1
   so far, and Democrats with 199 seats.

   The New York Times election analysts have Republicans at 210 seats,
   just 8 shy of a majority in the House with about 25 race outcomes left
   to be announced.

   The Decision Desk HQ, which also analyzes results, has Republicans with
   213 seats and Democrats with 200, and is projecting an 85% chance that
   Republicans will win the House.

   Those races are scattered throughout the country with many on the West
   Coast and in the Midwest.

   House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested Republicans are expecting to keep
   the House.

   Republicans keeping the House will be a legislative boost to Trump but
   also likely keep him from the headache of facing another impeachment.

   “House Republicans have been successful in securing critical flips in
   swing states including Pennsylvania and Michigan, while our
   battle-tested incumbents have secured re-election from coast to coast,”
   Johnson wrote on X. “The latest data and trends indicate that when all
   the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority, even
   though we faced a map with 18 Biden-won seats.”