Viewers did not need to stay up late Tuesday night to hear most major national news outlets had declared that the Democratic Party had won control of both the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the Senate as that was determined by 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
CBS News reported early Wednesday morning that Democrats were seemingly assured of at least 54 seats in the Senate and around 250 in the House – with some races still undecided. The results, while still unofficial, are considered a major blow to the agenda of President Donald Trump.
One of the biggest flips in favor of the Democrats came in Texas, home to commercial nuclear power plants and the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Pantex Plant. State lawmaker James Talarico (D) defeated the state’s GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton.
As for the Pantex Plant in Texas, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, won re-election by defeating former Amarillo city councilman Mark Nair (D).
Here is a quick look at some of the other races that could affect the Department of Energy’s nuclear sites or commercial nuclear plants and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Savannah River Site: In South Carolina’s Senate race Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews defeated short-term incumbent Darline Graham, the Republican who this summer was appointed to fill the unexpired term of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
In the House of Representatives, longtime Rep. Joe Wilson (R) was narrowly leading challenger Zyon Khalifa (D) as of Thursday morning.
Hanford Site in Washington state: Republican Amanda McKinney had a significant lead over Democrat John Duresky in an election to succeed longtime incumbent Dan Newhouse (R) a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
Energy Technology Engineering Center in California: Rep. Brad Sherman (D) won re-election, defeating Republican Larry Thompson.
Idaho National Laboratory: Incumbent Rep. Mike Simpson (R) won another term by defeating Democrat Ellie Gilbreath and a third-party candidate in the House race. In the Senate, incumbent Jim Risch (R), a member of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, easily won re-election over Independent Todd Achilles and other challengers.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California: Aisha Wahab (D) led fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez with more than 50% of the votes counted.
Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico: Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D) defeated Martin Zamora (R) a former member of the New Mexico legislature.
Nevada National Security Site: Incumbent Democrat Rep. Steven Horsford won re-election over Republican Copy Whipple
Oak Ridge Site: In Tennessee, Chuck Fleischman (R), who would still be the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Energy & Water subcommittee, easily defeating Anna Golladay (D).
Paducah Site in Kentucky: Incumbent Rep. James Comer (R) won re-election over Democrat Drew Williams,
Portsmouth Site in Ohio: Former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), ousted two years ago, staged a comeback, defeating appointed incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Husted (R).In the House, Rep. David Taylor (R), incumbent defeated Democrat Jen Mazzuckelli.
While not directly in the DOE nuclear complex, incumbent Marcy Kaptur, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Energy & Water subcommittee, was the projected winner by Associated Press over Republican Derek Merrin.
Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico: Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D) defeated Republican Ndidiamaka (Didi) Okpareke. In the U.S. Senate, incumbent Democrat Ben Ray Luján won a second term, defeating Larry Marker.
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico: Rep. Gabe Vasquez, an incumbent Democrat, defeated Republican Greg Cunningham.
West Valley Demonstration Project in New York: Incumbent Republican Nick Langworthy defeated Aaron Gies (D).
