The power struggle for the Senate, the upper house of the US Congress, turned into a shake-up before it became clear that the incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Masto will defeat the Trump-backed Republican Adam Laxhalt in the state of Nevada, according to forecasts in the US media.
The vote battle has been extremely even in recent days – with only roughly 860 votes separating the candidates on Saturday afternoon, with the Republicans in favor.
But shortly after 03:00 on Sunday night, Swedish time, it was clear that Catherine Cortez Mastos had risen to the lead by a margin of nearly 5,000 votes after about 22,000 postal votes from the populous district of Clark County, where Las Vegas is located. counted. Shortly afterwards, several media companies, including CNN, AFP and AP, proclaimed her the winner of the senatorial election.
“Thank you, Nevada!”, Catherine Cortez Mastos signs Twitter.
With Cortez Masto’s victory, the Democrats get 50 seats against the Republicans’ 49 seats, and retain their majority in the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris as the deciding vote.
“This election is a victory — a victory and a vindication for Democrats,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Biden: “Incredibly pleased”
The Democrats retaining control of the Senate is seen as a huge boost for President Joe Biden during his remaining two years in office. Usually the opposition goes strong in a mid-term election, but the “red republican wave” predicted before the election has not materialized.
Biden, who is currently in Cambodia for the international Asean meeting, says in an interview that he is “incredibly pleased,” according to CNN.
— I’m not surprised, but I’m incredibly happy with the result, says Biden, adding that the party is now focusing on the second round of elections in Georgia.
“It feels good and I’m looking forward to the coming years,” he says.
Georgia remains
The eyes of the world were directed towards Nevada after Democrat Mark Kelly was declared the winner of the Senate election in Arizona during the night of Saturday, Swedish time. Republicans had needed to win both of the two states to tighten their grip on the Senate.
Now there remains the runoff in Georgia in December, which will be held when neither Republican Herschel Walker nor Democrat Raphael Warnock secured 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s midterm elections. In the state, the last remaining seat is at stake, but the election will not otherwise affect the balance of power in the Senate.
It is still not clear how the election to the House of Representatives, the second chamber of Congress, will go. According to CNN’s forecast, the Republicans have the lead with 211 to the Democrats’ 204, where 218 is required for a majority.