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:
Katie Hobbs said she’ll remain Arizona’s secretary of state despite GOP calls for her to step down
Arizona’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Katie Hobbs, said she would not recuse herself from her current position as secretary of state despite assertions from Republican candidates that her role as the state’s top election official is a conflict of interest as she runs for higher office.
“I took an oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Arizona. I have upheld that oath and I will continue to do so until I leave office on Jan. 2,” she told the Arizona Republic.
There is no legal requirement for Hobbs to step aside. A number of incumbent secretaries of state in Arizona have certified their own reelections.
"I don't see a problem with her being secretary of state and running for governor and recording the votes," former Republican Gov. Jan Brewer told the Arizona Republic about Hobbs. Brewer certified her own reelection as secretary of state in 2006. She became governor in 2009 when Democrat Janet Napolitano resigned to work in the Obama administration.
Hobbs’ race remains tight against her Republican opponent Kari Lake, a staunch proprietor of debunked allegations that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent. Lake told ABC News’ chief Washington correspondentJon Karl that she would accept the results of the election if they were “fair, honest and transparent.”
Trump says DeSantis should be reelected as governor
Former President Donald Trump said Sunday that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis should be reelected amid a mushrooming intraparty rivalry.
"The people of Florida are going to reelect the wonderful, the great friend of mine, Marco Rubio, to the United States Senate, and you’re going to reelect Ron DeSantis as your governor," Trump said at a rally in Florida Sunday to boost Rubio's reelection bid. DeSantis was notably absent from the event.
Trump's remark about DeSantis came a day after he branded the Florida governor with a less-than-flattering nickname while rattling off results from a poll of possible 2024 GOP presidential contenders.
"We’re winning big, big, big in the Republican Party for the nomination like nobody’s ever seen before," Trump said on Saturday. "Let’s see, there it is: Trump at 71. Ron 'DeSanctimonious' at 10%. Mike Pence at 7 — oh, Mike’s doing better than I thought."
Rumors about tension between the two GOP leaders had swirled for months as both eye possible White House campaigns.
Trump remains the GOP's de facto leader, keeping a stranglehold on the party's base even after leaving the White House. DeSantis has shot to conservative stardom during the coronavirus pandemic by rebuffing pleas for broader restrictions and leaning into a spate of culture wars embraced by Republican voters.
Neither has formally declared their 2024 ambitions and DeSantis still has to win his reelection bid on Tuesday. Sources have told ABC News that Trump could launch a presidential campaign later this month.
Where Biden, Harris and Trump are spending election eve
Political heavyweights are hitting the trail for one final day of campaigning before voters head to the polls Tuesday.
President Joe Biden will join a virtual reception Monday afternoon for the Democratic National Committee before heading to Maryland with first lady Jill Biden to stump for gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore and the Democratic Party. The rally at Bowie State University will kick off at 7 p.m. ET.
Jill Biden’s also headlining a rally for Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton in Virginia at 11:45 a.m. ET.
Vice President Kamala Harris will spend the day in her home state of California. She and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are delivering remarks at a political event at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Former President Donald Trump is going to Dayton, Ohio, to rally GOP voters. Senate candidate J.D. Vance, who faces Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in tomorrow’s race, will speak ahead of Trump. Trump will take the stage at 8 p.m. ET.
NASED urges patience
The National Association of State Election Directors is urging patience ahead of the midterms, saying officials have been working nonstop to ensure the election is secure.
"State and local election officials have contingency plans in place so voters can have confidence in our elections and that the results will be tabulated accurately," the National Association of State Election Directors said in a statement Monday. "As with any election, it is important to note that operational challenges may arise."
The group says it’s normal for ballots to be counted in the days following the election.
"While the focus on election night is on who won and who lost, election night results are always unofficial. In the days and weeks to come, election officials will count every eligible ballot within the bounds of state laws, including provisional ballots, mail ballots, and ballots cast by military and overseas voters,” the statement said. “This critical process is normal, as it takes time to accurately tabulate millions of ballots. Some races will be close and may require a recount or a recanvass, depending on the state, but every eligible ballot will be counted as cast.”
-ABC News’ Luke Barr