Catherine Cortez Masto was re-elected after defeating Republican challenger Adam Laxalt
Democrats retained control of the US Senate on Saturday night, thwarting Republican attempts to reclaim the chamber and making it harder for them to thwart President Joe Biden's agenda.
The fate of the House remains uncertain as Republicans struggle to muster a slim majority there.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's victory over Republican challenger Adam Laxalt in Nevada gave Democrats the 50 seats they need to maintain control of the Senate. His victory reflected the surprising strength of Democrats across the United States during Tuesday's midterm elections.
Seeking re-election in an economically struggling state that has some of the highest gas prices in the country, Cortez Masto is considered the most vulnerable member of the Senate, adding to the frustration of Republicans, who believe he can be defeated.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer claimed victory Saturday night, tweeting, "Your Senate Democratic Majority!"
With the outcome in Nevada now decided, Georgia is the only state where both parties are still vying for a Senate seat. Incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock faces Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a December 6 second round. The Alaska Senate race has advanced to a ratings choice vote, although the seat will remain with the Republican.
Democratic control of the Senate ensures a smoother process for the cabinet appointments and judicial selection of Biden, including for the possible opening of the Supreme Court. The party will also retain control of the committee and have the power to conduct investigations or oversight of the Biden administration, and will be able to overrule legislation sent by the House if Republicans win that chamber. If the Democrats pull through to a victory in the House, it would mean complete control of Congress for the Democrats -- and another chance to advance Biden's priorities, which he said include codifying abortion rights. The party still lacks the 60 votes in the Senate needed to effect many major legislative changes.
The Senate battle hinges on several seats being contested in depth. The two parties are spending tens of millions of dollars in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia, top battlegrounds where Democrats hope that Republicans' decision to nominate untested candidates—many of which were backed by former president Donald Trump—will help them defy a national headwind. .
The Democrats scored a landslide victory in Pennsylvania, where Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman defeated cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is backed by Trump, to win the seat currently held by a Republican. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly won re-election by about five percentage points.
A tightly divided swing state, Nevada is one of the most racially diverse in the country, a working-class state whose population has been hit hard by inflation and other economic turmoil. Roughly three-quarters of Nevada voters say the state is going in the wrong direction, and about half cite the economy as the most important issue facing the state, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of 2,100 state voters.
Heading into the midterm elections, Republicans are relentlessly focused on the economy, a key concern for many voters amid stubborn inflation and high fuel and food prices. Republicans are also attacking Democrats for crime, a message that at times exaggerates threats but nevertheless creates anxiety, especially among suburban voters who turned away from the party in 2018 and 2020. And they highlight illegal border crossings, accusing Biden and other Democrats of failing protect the country.
But Democrats were backed by voters angry about a June Supreme Court decision that overturned the constitutional right to abortion. They also portray the Republican Party as too extreme and a threat to democracy, following the January 6, 2021 uprising at the US Capitol and Trump's false claim — repeated by many Republican candidates — that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Nationally, VoteCast shows that 7 in 10 voters say the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade was an important factor in their halftime decision. It also shows the reversal is widely unpopular. And roughly six in 10 say they support legislation guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.
Half of voters said inflation was a significant factor in their election, while 44 percent said the future of democracy was their top consideration.
Outside of Congress, Democrats won the gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—key battlegrounds for Biden's 2020 victory over Trump. However, Republicans hold governor's homes in Florida, Texas and Georgia — other battleground states Biden won narrowly two years ago. This article was written by EDUKASI CAMPUS.