Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Wednesday cheered his Democrats’ big wins in this week’s off-year elections.

“There is no possible takeaway last night other than this: Americans fiercely oppose MAGA extremism, fiercely oppose total abortion bans and want bipartisan leaders who can put America’s needs first,” said Mr. Schumer of New York.

In Virginia, Democrats held onto the Senate and gained control of the House of Delegates, ending Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s bid for a 15-week abortion ban. Voters enshrined abortion rights into Ohio’s state constitution and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear won reelection in ruby-red Kentucky.

And in Pennsylvania, an open Supreme Court seat was filled by a Democrat who campaigned on upholding abortion rights.

Mr. Schumer described the results as “another win for women’s choice.”

“After last night’s results, I have a message to my Republican colleagues,” he said. “When the MAGA agenda can’t win in deep-red Kentucky, or in Ohio, or help you in Virginia, it’s time to recognize MAGA extremism is the wrong answer — not just for the country but even for the GOP.”

Republicans were examining how — if at all — they should alter their messaging on the hot-button issue in the post-Roe v. Wade era. Some suggested the party should focus on other topics such as the economy while others said candidates need to be more strategic based on their constituency.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Republican and ally to former President Donald Trump, said the results underscored Americans’ desire for individual freedoms like abortion access, regardless of whether they may ever exercise those rights.

“They still value them because it’s about the individual. It’s about kind of, ‘leave me alone, let me live my life and freedom.’ I think we need to, as Republicans, take that and try to move forward but not change our core values,” Ms. Lummis said. “It’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”

• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.