With Democrats having held on to a contested US Senate seat in Nevada and secured voting control of the chamber, the political attention shifts to the House of Representatives, the makeup of which is still undecided.
In Nevada, incumbent Democratic US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto was declared the winner late Saturday by about 6,500 votes over Republican Adam Laxalt.
The victory gave Democrats at least 50 seats, and while Georgia will hold a runoff election on Dec 6 to determine whether incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock returns to the Senate or Republican Herschel Walker goes to Washington, the outcome will be either 51-49 in favor of Democrats, or 50-50. But because Vice-President Kamala Harris can cast a tiebreaking vote, as she has done frequently in the current 50-50 Senate, Democrats will retain control when voting proceeds along partisan lines.
Cortez Masto, the first Hispanic woman to serve in the Senate, relied on union support, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Her father was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents truck drivers, construction workers and warehouse workers.
Democratic control of the Senate ensures an easier path for President Joe Biden”s Cabinet appointments and judicial picks. The party also will maintain…
