Democrats won seven Senate seats in red states on Tuesday and took control of the chamber, while Republicans will also add new members. The 17 newcomers will join the next Congress as Social Security’s trust fund is projected to run dry in late 2032. After that, payroll tax revenue would cover about 78% of scheduled benefits, implying an automatic reduction of roughly 22% unless Congress intervenes. Senators elected to full terms this week serve until January 2033, placing the deadline during their terms. Because Social Security changes cannot be made through budget reconciliation, legislation will likely require 60 votes and bipartisan support. Campaign positions among the incoming senators range from removing or raising the payroll tax cap to increasing benefits, reducing taxes on benefits, protecting current retirees, opposing a higher retirement age and rejecting privatization.