Team News Riveting
Washington, November 13
Democrats will stay in control of the U.S. Senate after Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto — once considered the most vulnerable Democratic senator in the midterms — fended off a challenge from Republican Adam Laxalt after days of vote counting.
The USA Today reported the nation’s first Latina senator, Cortez Masto was targeted by national Republicans as their best chance to flip a seat. And because Democrats only control the 50-50 Senate because of Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking votes, Republicans only needed a net gain of one seat to reach their goal.
But with her seat secured, Democrats are guaranteed control of Congress’ upper chamber no matter the outcome of a Dec. 6 run-off in Georgia between incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker.
The Senate is split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans. The newly elected Senate will be sworn in on January 3.
If Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock were to win the December 6 Georgia runoff election against Republican challenger Herschel Walker, it would expand Democrats’ majority to 51-49. That, in turn, would give Democrats an additional edge in passing a limited number of controversial bills that are allowed to advance with a simple majority of votes, instead of the 60 needed for most legislation.
President Biden told reporters Democrats’ focus is now on the Georgia runoff on Dec. 6 between Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker.
“I’m not surprised by this,” Biden told reporters, according to a White House pool report. “I think it’s a reflection of the quality of our candidates.”
“It’s always better at 51” because then Democrats don’t need to have an even makeup of committees, he said. Having 51 seats in the Senate rather than 50 is “just simply better,” according to the pool report.
“Republicans are going to have to decide who they are,” Biden added.
