Projected Democratic Gains Put Senate Control in Play After Five Flips

Democratic projections across five Senate races, including a Kansas upset, have put control of the chamber in play and could affect the path of crypto legislation and financial regulation.

Democrat Adam Hamilton was projected to defeat Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas on Wednesday. With 84% of ballots counted, Hamilton led Marshall 53% to 44%. If the projection holds, Hamilton would become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas since 1932.

Kansas was one of five seats projected to change party hands, alongside North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and South Carolina. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats for a majority; the five projected gains do not establish the final balance if the party loses seats elsewhere.

Senate control matters to the crypto industry because it could influence the prospects for legislation and financial regulation.