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, 4:31 PM EST

Biden: 'It was a good day for democracy'

Even as some key races are still outstanding, President Joe Biden addressed Democrats' stronger-than-expected midterms results.

"It was a good day, I think, for democracy. And I think it was a good day for America," Biden told reporters during an address from the White House on Wednesday.

President Joe Biden arrives to speak in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022.
Susan Walsh/AP

Biden said that "any seat lost is painful" while acknowledging that some Democrats didn't win their elections. But overall he said the party "had a strong night."

"We lost fewer seats in the House of Representatives than any Democratic president's first midterm election in the last 40 years," he said.

Read more about Biden's address here.

Nov 09, 2022, 3:28 PM EST

Georgia Senate race heading to a runoff

In the Georgia Senate race, ABC News reports no candidate will receive more than 50% of the vote.

There will be a runoff election between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker on Dec. 6.

Republican Georgia U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker speaks next to his wife Julie during his 2022 U.S. midterm elections night party in Atlanta, on Nov. 8, 2022.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Warnock and Walker were tied Wednesday morning at 49% with 96% of the expected vote reported.

Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock speaks during an election night watch party in Atlanta, Nov. 8, 2022.
John Bazemore/AP

The Georgia Senate race is one of the most competitive in the country and will likely determine which party will control the Senate. Read more about the race here.

Neither incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock or Herschel Walker will receive more than 50% of the vote.
1:19
Georgia S​enate race heading to runoffNeither incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock or Herschel Walker will receive more than 50% of the vote.
ABCNews.com

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said voters can request absentee ballots now through Nov. 28. Early voting must begin no later than Nov. 28.

"I'll ask the voters to come out and vote one last time,” he said. "We hope that the voters don't have fatigue because this is where you get to exercise your priceless franchise: the right to vote.”

Nov 09, 2022, 3:23 PM EST

Where the outstanding Senate races stand

Alaska: With 71% of the expected vote reporting, Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka leads the Senate race with 44% of the vote, followed by Republican incumbent Lisa Murkowski with 43%. A third woman, Democrat Patricia Chesbro, has 10% of the vote.

Arizona: With 69% of the expected vote reporting, Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly leads the Senate race with 51% of the vote. Republican challenger Blake Masters has 46%.

Sen. Mark Kelly and his wife former Rep. Gabby Giffords talk to campaign volunteers on Election Day in Tuscon, Ariz., Nov. 08, 2022.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Arizona Republican senate candidate Blake Masters speaks during a get out the vote campaign rally in Prescott, Ariz., Nov. 7., 2022.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Nevada: With 80% of the expected vote reporting, Republican Adam Laxalt leads the Senate race with 50% of the vote, followed by incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto with 47%.

Georgia: With 99% of the expected vote reporting, incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and challenger Republican Herschel Walker are tied at 49% of the vote. There will be a runoff election on Dec. 6.

-ABC News’ Isabella Murray

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.
1:04
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

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