Democrats have held on to control of the US Senate, handing a victory to president Joe Biden and crushing Republican hopes of a ‘red wave’.
The party’s triumph was sealed in Las Vegas where incumbent Nevada senator Catherine Cortez Masto was declared the winner against ex-attorney general Adam Laxalt, giving it the magic number of 50 out of 100 Senate seats.
The Republicans could draw level if their challenger Herschel Walker can defeat senator Raphael Warnock in a run-off next month.
But deputy president Kamala Harris holds a tie-breaking vote that gives the Democrats the edge.
Many bills require 60 votes to pass, so Mr Biden will not have things all his own way.
But the 79-year-old, who has faced low approval ratings, said: ‘We feel good about where we are, I am incredibly pleased by the turnout.’
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said: ‘The American people have rejected ‘the nasty and divisive direction the MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republicans wanted to take our country.’
Some Republicans have blamed former president Donald Trump for backing candidates who lacked broad appeal. The outcome increases the chances that Florida governor Ron DeSantis could challenge him for the 2024 presidential nomination.
However, Republicans were close to taking control of the lower chamber of Congress. With results still coming in, they were last night on 211 seats in the House of Representatives, requiring 218 for a majority.
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