CNN expects Democrats to maintain their narrow Senate edge over the next two years after victories in tight races in Nevada and Arizona. Democrats now hold 50 Senate seats, while Republicans hold 49.
In Nevada, CNN predicted Democratic senators. Former prosecutor and state attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto will defeat Republican Adam Laxalt, her successor in the attorney general’s office, who is also Son and grandson of a former senator.
In Arizona, CNN predicted Democratic senators. Mark Kelly, former astronaut and husband of a former congressman. Gabrielle Giffords will defeat Republican Blake Masters, a venture capitalist endorsed by Trump and backed by tech mogul and emerging Republican mega-donor Peter Thiel.
The race between Georgia Democratic senators. Rafael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker will advance to the December runoff after neither candidate passed the 50 percent threshold on Tuesday.
Still, even if Republicans win the Georgia runoff, Vice President Kamala Harris will continue to cast a tie-breaking vote in a tie Senate to secure a Democratic majority.
Only one Senate seat has changed hands so far in the 2022 midterms: Pennsylvania, where Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman campaigned while recovering from a stroke in May, defeating Republican Mohamed O. Mehmet Oz, a celebrity doctor endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
Republicans successfully defended their seats in tight races in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin, while Democrats held on to tight races in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Hampshire .
More on the Democratic Senate victory: Retaining control of the Senate is a huge boost for President Biden during the remaining two years of his first term in the White House.
That means Democrats will be able to confirm Biden’s judicial nominee — avoiding the situation former President Barack Obama faced in 2016, when then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected his Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland to vote. It also means Senate Democrats can reject bills passed by the House and can set their own agenda.