Will the GOP take the Senate in November?

[Joe Republic]

Here's an interesting question.  Say the GOP nets 5 seats, leading to what looks like a 50-50 senate.  In true reality, this is a 50-48-2 senate (with 2 independents who caucus with Democrats).  So, which party gets to claim the title of "majority party"?  I can see arguments for both.

The Democrats, of course.  The President of the Senate is a Democrat.

Same thing happened after 2000 when the Senate was split 50-50, and the new President of the Senate was a Republican.  (Until Jeffords defected, that is.)

[Joe Republic]

But those Indies caucus with the Democrats.

[Joe Republic]

But those Indies caucus with the Democrats.

Yes, of course.  I'm just saying that, technically, Mitch McConnell might have an argument for saying he is the actual majority leader.

But that's not how it works.  The Democratic Senate caucus would be 50 + the VP.  The Indies are Independent for election purposes, but in the Senate they are considered Democrats.

Plus what interstate73 said.