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

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

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Tal Axelrod, Emily Shapiro, Morgan Winsor, Isabella Murray, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, Julia Jacobo, and Stephanie Guerilus
Last Updated: November 15, 2022, 5:21 AM EST

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 09, 2022, 3:12 PM EST

McCarthy formally launches bid for House speaker despite incomplete results

Despite the number of House races that remain outstanding, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has formally launched a bid for House speaker in a letter to his colleagues, pledging to be "a listener every bit as much as a Speaker." He says Republicans will "achieve our goal of taking back the House."

McCarthy promised to "reopen the Capitol" and end proxy voting in addition to remote work for Congress.

He said Republicans will "devote the resources necessary for this House to go toe-to-toe with the executive branch, especially as it pertains to oversight and holding the Biden administration accountable for its mismanagement of our country."

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has formally announced a bid for House speaker in a letter to his colleagues, despite the number of races that remain outstanding.
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McCarthy launches bid for House speaker House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has formally announced a bid for House speaker in a letter to his colleagues, despite the number of races that remain outstanding.
ABCNews.com

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

Nov 09, 2022, 3:08 PM EST

Pelosi to Dems: House results so far 'a remarkable achievement'

On a caucus call with House Democrats after a surprising showing on election night, Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised her party's efforts to defend their majority.

"It is a remarkable achievement what all of us did working together," Pelosi said, according to a source on the call.

On a caucus call with House Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised her party's efforts to defend their majority.
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Pelosi says House results so far 'a remarkable achievement' On a caucus call with House Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised her party's efforts to defend their majority.
ABCNews.com

"We said we would make our own environment and we did," Pelosi added.

She praised Democratic Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney -- who narrowly lost his reelection race in New York -- after Republicans spent millions of dollars to unseat him. Republicans won a "pyrrhic victory" against Maloney, she told Democrats, and used up resources "which could have been better spent in some other races."

-ABC News’ Ben Siegel

Nov 09, 2022, 1:56 PM EST

Van Orden, who was in DC on Jan. 6, projected to win House race

ABC News can project that Republican Derrick Van Orden will win Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, picking up a seat formerly held by Democrat Ronald Kind. With 89% of the expected vote reporting, Van Orden has 52.8% of the vote to Democrat Brad Pfaff's 47.1%.

PHOTO: Congressional candidate Derrick Van Orden speaks during a campaign rally in Waukesha, Wisc., Aug. 5, 2022.
Congressional candidate Derrick Van Orden speaks during a campaign rally in Waukesha, Wisc., Aug. 5, 2022. Trump 3734
Milwaukee Journal via USA Today Network, FILE

Van Orden was present at former President Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6, 2021. Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, has said he was in the nation's capital that day for meetings.

Some Capitol Police officers are angry that Orden and others who were in Washington, D.C., that day have run for office. Four officers told ABC News they’re planning to retire early, adding to the already huge problem of worker retention on the force.

Nov 09, 2022, 12:55 PM EST

McConnell: ‘I don’t deal in feelings’

Asked Wednesday how he feels about the Republicans’ chances of taking back the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell replied, "I don’t deal in feelings.”

“They’ve got to count the votes and then we’ll figure out where we are,” he told reporters at the Capitol.

McConnell did not respond to ABC News’ questions if he's still supporting Georgia Republican Senatorial candidate Herschel Walker.

-ABC News’ Trish Turner

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