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.


0

Georgia officials overnighting absentee ballots to 1,000 voters who never received them

Voters who were never mailed their absentee ballot in Cobb County, Georgia, will still be able to vote, according to a new court ruling.

Approximately 1,036 voters in the county had requested a ballot but never received them. Ballots are supposed to be mailed within three days after election officials receive ballot requests. However, election workers in the county failed to upload absentee voting information to a ballot mailing system on Oct. 13 and Oct. 22.

Now, the Cobb County Board of Elections will send ballots to those voters Monday by overnight delivery, according to the court ruling. Those voters can mail their ballots provided they are postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 and returned by Nov. 14. Email and text updates will be provided to those affected voters so they are able to track their ballot.

Voters affected by the error will also be able to vote in person Tuesday or by a federal write-in absentee ballot.

One of the main criticisms from Democrats regarding SB 202 -- the sweeping elections bill signed by Gov. Brian Kemp last year -- has been focused on mail-in ballots. Previously, voters were able to request absentee ballots 180 days before an election and the county could start mailing them out 49 days before Election Day. Now, voters can only request ballots within 78 days of an election and they can't be mailed until 29 days before.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa


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.

“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.”

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


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."

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


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