Midterm election results updates: Dems keep control of Senate with Nevada win

Catherine Cortez Masto’s victory in Nevada clinched the chamber for Democrats.

The 2022 midterm elections shaped up to be some of the most consequential in the nation's recent history, with control of Congress at stake.

All 435 seats in the House and 35 of 100 seats in the Senate were on the ballot, as well as several influential gubernatorial elections in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Democrats were defending their narrow majorities in both chambers and retained control of the Senate, though control of the House isn't yet clear. But a Republican flip of the lower chamber would be enough to curtail most of President Joe Biden's legislative agenda and would likely result in investigations against his administration and even his family.

Key updates:

Here is how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Nov 07, 2022, 5:16 PM EST

Biden says Dems will ‘surprise the living devil out of a lot of people’

President Joe Biden said Monday he thinks Democrats will “surprise the living devil out of a lot of people" in the midterm elections.

Mail in ballots are processed and authenticated by machine at the Salt Lake County election headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 7, 2022.
George Frey/Getty Images

“Imagine what we can do in a second term if we maintain control,” Biden said during a virtual Democratic reception.

“I know that sounds like a very high expectation,” Biden said, adding, “I’m optimistic.”

A voter drops his ballot into a drop box at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Nov. 07, 2022.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

At a second Democratic reception Monday, the president said, “We’re going up against some of the darkest forces we’ve ever seen in our history. These MAGA Republicans are a different breed … this is not your father’s Republican Party. It’s a different deal."

Biden added, “We have a shot at keeping the Senate, increase in it, and I am optimistic about the House, as well.”

-ABC News’ Jordyn Phelps

Nov 07, 2022, 4:56 PM EST

Unofficial Pennsylvania results not expected for ‘at least a few days,’ official said last month

Unofficial results for the midterm elections in Pennsylvania are not expected for “at least a few days,” Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Leigh Chapman told reporters on Oct. 24.

"We need to set realistic expectations," Chapman said, stressing that the public and media should "not expect complete results on election night."

Voters wait in line to make corrections to their ballots for the midterm elections at City Hall in Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 2022.
Matt Rourke/AP

A voter drops off a ballot at an election ballot return box in Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 2022.
Matt Rourke/AP

Pennsylvania is one of nine states that by law cannot begin processing mail-in and absentee ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day.

Voters with mistakes on their mail ballots have until Nov. 14 to cure them and military and overseas residents have until 5 p.m. on Nov. 15 to get their ballots in.

Chapman said fully certified results won't come until the Nov. 28 deadline under law.

"We prioritize accuracy over speed," Chapman said. "The delay doesn't mean anything bad is happening.”

-ABC News’ Devin Dwyer

Nov 07, 2022, 3:14 PM EST

White House says Trump is not 'our focus' amid reports of 2024 bid

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday pushed back on questions about former President Donald Trump's expected 2024 bid.

"I was asked this question the other day, and that's not our focus," she said.

Trump is leaning toward announcing a third run for the White House, possibly as early as the week of Nov. 14, sources with direct knowledge of the matter previously told ABC News.

At Monday's briefing, Jean-Pierre also wouldn't give any insight into whether Trump's pending announcement will force Biden's hand on making his own reelection decision. Biden has said he intends to run for a second term, though hasn't made a formal decision.

"Again, I'm going to say what he has said many times and what I have said from here many times is that the president intends to run and I will just leave those words there," Jean-Pierre told reporters.

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett

Nov 07, 2022, 3:09 PM EST

White House says it's 'safe' to go to the polls, doesn't foresee threats

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday there were no "specific credible threats" about a possible uprising this election cycle. "The president has been briefed on the threat environment and directed that all appropriate steps be taken to ensure safe and secure voting occurs right in this process," Jean-Pierre said.

She cited a speech President Joe Biden gave last week against "political violence and voter intimidation."

"You heard him say this last week, in his speech, and many times before: You can't love your country only when you win," Jean-Pierre said.

"But I want to be clear: Americans should feel safe going to the polls," she said.

"It is important for Americans to do so. The administration has taken the issue of threats to the safety of voters and election officials seriously from day one," she said.

Late last month, Attorney General Merrick Garland was asked about reports of possible voter intimidation in Arizona and said, "The Justice Department has an obligation to guarantee a free and fair vote by everyone whose qualified to vote and will not permit voters to be intimidated."

-- ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett

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