Wave of GOP Senate Retirements Complicates Party's Path Back to a Majority On 1/27/21 at 9:03 PM EST At least 3 Republican members of the U.S. Senate have announced they will not seek reelection, which could lead to Democrats taking further control of the Senate. Democrats gained a 50-50 split with Republicans in the Senate following the special January Senate elections in Georgia, in which both incumbent Republican senators were ousted. Democrats have an advantage over Republicans with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as President of the Senate. Harris is expected to break any tie votes in the Senate in favor of Democrats. Republicans would only need to replace one Democrat in order to regain a majority in the Senate.