Republicans retain control of Senate, House

Republicans kept control of both chambers of the US Congress in Tuesday’s election. With a handful of races still to be decided, Republicans had secured 51 seats in the 100-member Senate, dashing Democrats’ hopes to take control of the chamber.

Senators serve staggered six-year terms and a third of the chamber is up for re-election every two years.

Procedural rules in the Senate mean 60 votes are needed to advance major initiatives. Republicans entered the election with 54 seats. The House of Representatives has 435 seats and members serve two-year terms.

To advance most bills in the House, 218 votes or more are needed. Republicans went into the elections holding 246 seats to the Democrats’ 186. According to NBC’s House model, they are on track to take 239 seats to the Democrats’ 196.