The US election update in the afternoon: Democrats stronger than expected – election outcome still open
The most important
- Polls had predicted a so-called red wave for Republicans in the US midterms.
- But it could be that the Democrats hold their ground much better than expected.
- The preliminary results at a glance.
A powerful wave of success for the Republicans was expected during the “midterms” in the USA, but they were too early to celebrate. The crucial question of who will call the shots in Congress in the future still depends on a few close races. Is a long hanging game imminent?
Despite high inflation and poor poll numbers, President Joe Biden and his Democrats fared much better than expected in the US midterm elections. A clear victory for the Republicans, as predicted in the polls, did not materialize. Even the day after the vote, it was still unclear who would achieve the majorities in the two chambers of Congress. It was initially unclear how long it would take to count the results. ex-president Donald Trump put a damper on the election.
The Key Races – and a possible runoff in Georgia
A tight race is ahead in the Senate. So far, the Democrats and Republicans are tied with 48 seats each. Four races are still to come (as of 12:00 p.m.). Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Wisconsin are crucial. While Arizona is forecasting a victory for the Democrats, Nevada and Wisconsin are leaning towards the Republicans.
But in Georgia, the blues are currently just a few votes ahead of the reds – incumbent Raphael Warnock of the Democrats ahead of his challenger Herschel Walker. The state is completely open. The lead changed back and forth between the two several times during the ongoing count and a winner would have to get more than 50 percent of the votes due to a special rule of the state to avert a runoff election on December 6 for the seat.
It was also unclear which party would occupy the senator posts in Nevada and Arizona in the future. However, many votes have not yet been counted. Experience has shown that votes cast on election day are more likely to go in favor of the Republicans. Postal votes for the Democrats. Especially in Nevada, the latter could still lead to a comeback of the currently behind democratic candidate.
In these four states, the result is still open – these are the forecasts (as of 3 p.m.):
Arizona
- Kelly (Democrat): 51.9 percent (107,000 votes ahead)
- Masters (Republicans): 45.9 percent
- 68 percent of the votes counted
Georgia
- Warnock (Democrat): 49.2 percent (18,000)
- Walker (Republican): 48.7 percent
- 96 percent of the votes counted
Nevada
- Laxait (Republican): 49.9 percent (22,600)
- Cortez Masto (Democrat): 47.2 percent
- 80 percent of the votes counted
Wisconsin
- Johnson (Republican): 50.5 percent (31,700)
- Barnes (Democrat): 49.3 percent
- 94 percent of the votes counted
50 seats is the threshold for an absolute majority. However, only 35 seats will be re-elected. The rest were determined two years ago.
These states went to the Democrats:
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- California
- Maryland
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Washington State
These states went to the Republicans:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Utah
The results in the House of Representatives
Here, the Republicans have so far led 197 seats to 172 (as of 11:45 a.m.). Several seats are up for grabs per state, depending on its size.
In these states, the Democrats clearly lead:
- Colorado
- Delaware
- California
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Washington State
- Vermont
In these states, Republicans clearly lead:
- Alabama
- Akashka
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- South Dakota
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Utah
Gubernatorial elections: Republicans re-elected in Texas, Florida and Alabama
In the US state of Florida, however, Republican Ron DeSantis has already achieved great success for himself and his party: the 44-year-old was convincingly re-elected governor. Within the party, DeSantis is considered the biggest rival of ex-President Donald Trump. Ex-President Trump threatened DeSantis on Tuesday if he entered the race for the White House in 2024. The other results of the governor elections (as of 11:30 a.m.):
These Democrats will win the gubernatorial election:
- California: Newsom
- Hawaii: Green
- Maine: Janet Mills
- Maryland: Moore
- Massachusetts: Healy
- Michigan: Whitmer
- Minnesota: Walz
- New Mexico: Lujan Grisham
- New York: Hochul
- Pennsylvania: Shapiro
- Rhode Island: McKee
- Wisconsin: Evers
These Republicans will win the gubernatorial election:
- Florida: Ron DeSantis
- Georgia: Brian Kemp
- Idaho: Little
- Iowa: Reynolds
- Oklahoma: Stitt
- Michigan: Whitmer
- Nebraska: Pillen
- Texas: Abbott
- South Dakota: Noem
- South Carolina: McMaster
- Wyoming; Gordon
The “midterms” in the middle of President Joe Biden’s four-year term will see all 435 seats in the House of Representatives up for grabs and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate, the second chamber of the US House of Representatives. Republicans would need to gain a net Senate seat and five House seats to have a majority in both houses. In the House of Representatives, Republicans have a much better chance of reversing their current 212-220 deficit. Numerous governorships and other important offices in the states are also voted on in the elections.
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