Will the GOP take the Senate in November?

[Fritz]

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.

[Fritz]

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.)

But if we include the VP in the equation, that is still only 49 Democrats vs. 50 Republicans (and two indies).

[Fritz]

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.