Latest updates and results after Joe Biden hails ‘good day’ for democracy as Democrats outperform expectations in US midterm elections
David Smith, the Guardian’s Washington DC bureau chief, offers this analysis of the results today, arguing that Democrats are breathing a sigh of relief – but their troubles are far from over:
For all their deflation, Republicans appear on course to capture a majority in the House of Representatives, albeit by a far smaller margin than history has suggested or crystal ball gazers had forecast.
The fierce race between Georgia’s Democratic incumbent senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker moved to a runoff. Warnock is narrowly leading Walker, but neither candidate will be able to clear the 50% threshold needed to win outright after the polls closed on Tuesday and avoid a 6 December runoff.
In Nevada as of midday on Wednesday, with about 77% of the votes counted, Democratic incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto was trailing her Republican rival Adam Laxalt, 47.2% to 49.9%. Both candidates have urged patience as residents wait to hear the outcome of the race and several other close elections, which could take days.
Arizona’s Democratic incumbent Mark Kelly was ahead of his Republican challenger, Blake Masters, 51.4% to 46.4%, with 45% of the vote counted.
The Democrats need to win two of those Senate seats to effectively maintain control of the Senate with a 50-50 split on Senators and the vice president having the casting vote.
