Rand Paul, Tim Scott Among Incumbents Projected to Win as First Votes Come In

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 26, 2020. Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are among the incumbents projected to win their races as the first votes came in for the midterm elections on Nov. 8.

With about 13 percent of the votes counted, Paul had 57.6 percent to challenger Charles Booker’s 42 percent. Booker is a former Kentucky representative.

Scott, meanwhile, had about 60 percent of the votes in with the first counts coming in. He was being challenged by state Rep. Krystle Matthews.

Decision Desk HQ has projected wins for Paul and Scott. The Associated Press called both races based on the early vote counts.

Both senators would be serving their third terms if they win. Paul, 59, the son of former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) entered the Senate in 2011. Scott, 57, a businessman, was appointed to a Senate seat in 2013 by then-Gov. Nikki Haley.

Vermont Rep. Peter Welch, meanwhile, was projected to win an open race to replace retiring Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

Welch, 75, was facing off against military veteran Gerald Malloy, who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

Welch has represented Vermont in the House since 2007.

Katie Britt, a former aide to Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), was projected to win the seat Shelby is leaving at the end of his term.

Republicans hope to flip both the House and the Senate, while Democrats are trying to keep control of one or both.

Democrats currently have a 220–212 majority in the lower chamber, with three vacancies. Democrats hold the 50–50 Senate because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast tiebreaking votes.

Other Early Calls

Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) was projected to trump Marcus Flowers, the Democrat running against her. Taylor-Greene, 48, is in her first term in office.

Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Terrycina Sewell (D-Ala.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), and Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) were among other incumbents projected to win.

Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), the House majority whip, was also projected to win re-election.

Newcomers to Congress, according to the projections, include Anna Paulina Luna, a U.S. Air Force veteran who trumped former Obama administration aide Eric Lynn for the seat vacated by former Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) because Crist decided to focus on running for governor. Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis beat Crist and is set for a second term.

North Carolina Sen. Valerie Foushee was projected to beat nurse Courtney Geels for the seat representing North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District. It’s currently held by Rep. David Price (R-N.C.), who is retiring after his term ends.

Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a 25-year-old activist, was projected to win the seat held by Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), who launched a bid against Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Frost was projected to beat Army veteran Calvin Wimbish. Rubio was projected to beat Demings.