(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) After a bruising campaign for a nationally-watched race that could help decide majority control of Congress, Republican JD Vance was projected Tuesday to become Ohio’s new US Senator with a win over Democrat Tim Ryan.
“We have a very simple job to do. It’s go to work every single day and fight for the people of Ohio,” Vance said during his victory speech.
But while the Trump-endorsed Vance walked away with a win, the margin of victory fell short of what was anticipated for a projected red wave election. Noting that Vance didn’t secure a double-digit win, the Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro called it “an underperformance.”
“This is not a red wave. This is at best, a red trickle,” Shapiro said.
.@benshapiro: [JD Vance] did not win a double digit victory. He should be winning a double digit victory in Ohio. That is an underperformance…This is not a red wave. This is at best, a red trickle." pic.twitter.com/cLKW7KlZg7
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) November 9, 2022
That sentiment was echoed by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who both opined that a projected red wave was not likely forthcoming.
“It hasn’t been as big of a wave as I’d hoped it would be,” Cruz said, according to the Daily Mail. “We’ve had some close races go the other way so far.”
In an interview with NBC News, Graham expressed similar frustration.
“Definitely not a Republican wave, that’s for darn sure,” Graham lamented.
The comments and concern came after the GOP struggled in early losses by Republican candidates who were making late surges in the polls, like New Hampshire Senate candidate retired Army General Don Bolduc, who fell to incumbent Democrat Maggie Hassan. In closely contested House races in Virginia that the GOP had hoped would flip, incumbent Democrat Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton notched wins.
Despite those losses, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who would be in the running for majority leader if Republicans regain control, remained optimistic about those chances, as votes continued to be tallied in key races.
“When you wake up tomorrow, we will be in the majority,” McCarthy predicted.
Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was equally ready to claim a victory emerging from Tuesday’s vote.
“While many races remain too close to call, it is clear that House Democratic Members and candidates are strongly outperforming expectations across the country,” she boasted.
In the wake of Vance’s win in Ohio, control of the Senate is still up for grabs, with key races in Georgia, Nevada and Arizona still too close to call early Wednesday morning.
Other races of impact that helped quell a red wave midterm included projected gubernatorial wins by Democrats Tony Evers in Wisconsin, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Kathy Hochul of New York, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Janet Mills of Maine, reported the Associated Press.
