As vote counting began in the U.S. midterm elections, Democratic Senator Mark Warner won re-election in Virginia's Senate race. This is the first Senate seat in this midterm election to have a confirmed winner.

According to AP's election report updated at 9:55 a.m. Korea time on November 4, Warner, who was favored before the election, secured victory, defending the Democratic Party's existing seat. However, since this was a seat retention, the overall party makeup of the Senate remains unchanged, meaning the Democrats did not pick up a new Republican seat.

■ Congressional Control at Stake... Democrats Need '4 Senate Seats, 3 House Seats'

American voters went to the polls on November 3 local time to elect federal senators and representatives. The election is drawing attention as it will determine the balance of power in Congress for the remaining two years of President Donald Trump's term.

According to AP, for Democrats to seize control of Congress, they must pick up four seats currently held by Republicans in the Senate and gain a net three seats in the House. As of 9:55 a.m. Korea time on November 4, voting had closed in 11 U.S. states, with results being tallied sequentially.

Early results have come mainly from districts where one party was clearly favored, and the outcomes in key battlegrounds that will determine congressional majorities remain undecided. Major competitive states in the Senate races include Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. Some of these share the common trait of being places where President Trump won by significant margins in the past.

House races are also fiercely contested across the country. Because a small shift in seats can flip the House majority, results in individual districts matter greatly. If Democrats secure a House majority, changes could emerge in how the Trump administration advances its policies.

■ Why the Balance of Power in Congress Matters... The Economy Is the Biggest Issue

Congress wields significant authority over budgets, legislation, and oversight of the executive branch. Therefore, a change in the congressional balance of power would affect legislative battles and lawmaking processes surrounding the president's key policies. If Republicans retain their congressional majorities, the current power structure will continue.

Economic issues have also emerged as a major point of contention in this election. AP voter surveys confirmed concerns about the cost of living and various expenses. Dissatisfaction with high living costs emerged as a factor influencing voters' judgments, and a considerable number of respondents held the Trump administration responsible for economic burdens. This shows the election goes beyond a simple contest for seats between parties, and is tied to voters' assessment of the current administration's economic policies. However, such poll results do not necessarily translate into actual outcomes in individual districts.

■ How Does AP Call Races?... Separate from Official Certification

Attention is also focused on how winners are declared in the U.S. midterms. AP tracks vote counting in roughly 7,000 races nationwide and declares winners. AP does not simply declare the leading vote-getter the winner; rather, it comprehensively analyzes vote counts, the number of outstanding ballots, and regional voting patterns, declaring a winner only when it judges that trailing candidates are unlikely to close the gap.

However, media outlets' race calls are separate from the official certification of results by state election authorities. Official results typically take several weeks to be certified.

The Virginia Senate result confirmed so far, being a Democratic seat retention, has not directly altered the race for Senate control. To determine the future congressional power structure, vote counts from key battleground states where Republicans and Democrats are locked in tight races must be watched. As the U.S. midterm elections enter the full vote-counting phase, which party will secure majorities in the Senate and House has emerged as the biggest point of interest.

[This article was reconstructed with some AI assistance based on AP's U.S. midterm election coverage updated at 9:55 a.m. Korea time on November 4. Election results may change as vote counting progresses, and final results should be confirmed through official announcements by state election authorities.]