After Senator Catherine Cortez Masto won re-election in Nevada, Edison Research projected on Saturday that Democrats will hold onto their narrow majority and control of the US Senate which is currently split 50-50 between Democrats and GOP.
Sen. Masto narrowly defeated her Republican challenger, former state attorney general Adam Laxalt who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who furiously sought to upend unified Democratic control of Washington by seizing on voters’ growing economic and political angst.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, told a news conference following Masto’s win that America’s roots of democracy are deep and strong. The newly elected Senate will be sworn in on January 3.
Previously on Friday, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly won re-election in Arizona, giving Democrats control of at least 50 Senate seats, but they might break ties in the 100-member chamber expanding Democrats’ majority to 51-49 if Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock wins the Georgia runoff election against Republican challenger Herschel Walker on December 6.
In a situation like that, Democrats would be getting an additional edge in passing the few bills they’re able to advance with a simple majority instead of the 60 votes needed for most legislation.
It also means Democrats will still be able to approve Biden’s nominees – such as federal judges – as well as any appointees to the Supreme Court should a vacancy open in the next two years.
Though Masto’s re-election has handed a major victory to President Joe Biden, Republicans are remaining close to winning control of the US House of Representatives.
It could take several days or more to determine which party will hold the majority in the 435-seat chamber since returns are still flowing in for several House races, including many in liberal-leaning California.
Meanwhile, Republicans continue to have an edge, and should they prevail, they’ve vowed, among other things, to try to roll back some of Biden’s victories and investigate Biden administration activities and probes of Biden’s son.
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