Most Hill Commerce, Judiciary Members Prevail

Election Day hasn't yet claimed any key members of Congress' panels overseeing tech and telecom. Republicans appeared to be defying prognosticators’ expectations. Vote counts showed them retaining several vulnerable Senate seats and regaining some House seats Democrats took in 2018. Control of the White House and Congress remained unresolved Wednesday morning with millions of votes in Tuesday’s election still being counted.

The Senate margin was even, with Republicans and Democrats both estimated to hold 47 seats. Some news agencies called the House as likely to remain in Democratic control, but neither party at that point appeared to have definitively won enough seats to claim the majority. The margin stood at 181 Democrats and 171 Republicans. Both parties had gained and lost two seats.

Commerce Committee member Cory Gardner, R-Colo., was the only senator on that panel or the Judiciary Committee that news agencies declared as losing. Gardner was trailing Democratic former Gov. John Hickenlooper, 54%-44%.

Senate Commerce member Gary Peters, D-Mich., was trailing GOP challenger John James by more than 35,000 votes, 49.4%-48.7%. Peters is also Homeland Security Committee ranking member. Commerce member Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, was leading challenger Al Gross, 62%-34%. Sullivan is considered a potential swing vote on FCC nominee Nathan Simington, who appears before Commerce next week. More on Simington is here.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., declared victory against former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison. Graham, lead sponsor of the Earn It Act and another Communications Decency Act Section 230-related bill, led 56%-42% with 91% of the vote counted. Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Thom Tillis, R-N.C., remained in a tight race with former state Sen. Cal Cunningham. Tillis led 49%-47% with 94% of votes in.

Two other Judiciary members also won. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is projected to defeat Theresa Greenfield. She led 52%-45% with 91% counted. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was projected to defeat M.J. Hegar. He led 54%-44% with 94% counted.

Incumbents of the House Commerce and Judiciary committees generally won or were ahead. Among those who won included the panels’ Democratic and GOP leaders. Consumer Protection Subcommittee member Richard Hudson, R-N.C., one of the few House Commerce members believed vulnerable ahead of the election, won with 53% of the vote. Communications Subcommittee member Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz., was at 52%. Former Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., was at 58%. Commerce ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., is retiring.

Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., author of anti-sex trafficking legislation passed in 2018, was projected to defeat Democratic challenger Jill Schupp. She led 52%-45% with 95% counted. Former House IP Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., led Ammar Campa-Najjar, a former Department of Labor official, with a 52%-48% tally at 78%. IP Subcommittee ranking member Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, declared victory over Democrat Kate Schroder. He led 52%-45% with 90% counted. Antitrust Subcommittee member Lucy McBath, D-Ga., was projected to defend her seat against Karen Handel, leading 54%-47% at 82% tallied.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota, an opponent of FCC approval of Ligado’s L-band plan, is among the incumbent Democrats who lost. GOP former Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach prevailed over Peterson 53%-40%. House Rural Broadband Task Force member Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, was trailing Republican challenger Ashley Hinson by more than 10,000 votes, 51%-49%.