The latest on the midterm elections.
After Big Win, Noem Looks to Cut Tax, Safeguard Abortion Ban
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem took the stage late Tuesday after a hearty reelection win in her deep red state, speaking behind a sign that captured her ambition for staying in the national spotlight: “America’s governor.”The Republican governor has sprung to national prominence during her first term as the state’s first female governor, and her 27 percentage point victory margin—larger than many expected—seemed to prove the popularity of her hands-off approach to the COVID-19 pandemic and rightward political push. Noem is widely seen as a potential 2024 White House contender, though she told her crowd of supporters who gathered at a Sioux Falls hotel Tuesday she was looking forward to four more years in South Dakota.
Her campaign spokesman, Ian Fury, summed up the victory margin on Twitter with a single word: “Mandate.”
Noem is looking to kick off her second term by enacting a historic tax cut, fend off attempts to soften the state’s abortion ban, and address shortages in both child care and affordable housing. But she will be working with a Legislature, that despite being firmly held by Republicans, has sometimes produced significant political headaches for the governor.
Connecticut’s Hayes Wins 3Rd Term in US House, Defeats Logan
Jahana Hayes has won reelection for a third term, fending off a challenge from a former state senator in a Connecticut race that national Republicans had targeted and resisting a red wave that overwhelmed some of her fellow Democrats in neighboring New York.Hayes defeated George Logan, a Republican who repeatedly linked her with President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and accused her of being tone-deaf about the impact of inflation on voters. The race attracted millions of dollars in outside money, with national Republicans seeing the western Connecticut 5th Congressional District as a key opportunity to crack Democrats’ lock on the state’s congressional delegation.
“National Republicans threw everything at me but the kitchen sink, put millions of dollars in this race,” Hayes told reporters who gathered at her campaign headquarters after the Secretary of the State’s Office announced it had received election results from a remaining community that had been delayed because of a technical issue.
Republican Concedes Race for New Mexico House Seat
Incumbent Republican Rep. Yvette Herrell conceded defeat Wednesday in a close-fought race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, clearing a path toward victory for Democratic challenger Gabe Vasquez.Herrell congratulated Vasquez as more votes were tallied but also blasted recent changes to the 2nd District’s boundaries by Democratic state lawmakers at the expense of rural communities.
A Republican court challenge is pending against a congressional redistricting plan for New Mexico that divvied up a conservative, oil-producing region, with related arguments scheduled before the state Supreme Court in January. Herrell said she was confident Republicans would retake the seat in 2024.
“Two years ago, the Democrats in Santa Fe announced they would gerrymander our district to ensure they would totally control our state’s federal delegation,” Herrell said in a statement. “They did just that, ignoring the will of the people in the process. ... Stay tuned!”
___Kari Lake Closes Gap with Katie Hobbs in Arizona as In-Person Votes are Counted
Only 66 percent of votes are in, but as of 10:00 a.m. local time in Arizona, Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake had significantly shrunk the gap between herself and her rival, Democratic Katie Hobbs.At 10:45 p.m. in Arizona the night before, Hobbs led Lake by approximately 170,000 votes. By 11:45 p.m., that lead had narrowed slightly to 163,000 votes. Now, only around 11,000 votes separate Lake from current leader Hobbs.
Michigan Democrats Give GOP a Rough Election Night
Republican expectations for wholesale change at the highest level of Michigan’s state government did not materialize on Nov. 8, as three top Democrat incumbents won reelection.Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer turned back a strong challenge from GOP challenger Tudor Dixon.
Whitmer defeated Dixon by a margin of eight percent (53 to 45 percent).
Dana Nessel, the state attorney general, won reelection to a second term defeating Republican Matt Deperno, garnering 52 percent of the vote to Deperno’s 46 percent.
Oregon Governor’s Race Between Kotek and Drazan Too Close to Call
The Oregon governor’s race, which has been a cakewalk for the Democratic candidate for the past 40 years, is too close to call.With polls closed and 63 percent of the votes counted, Democrat Tina Kotek and Republican Christine Drazan are in a dead heat, with unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson failing to break 10 percent.
Drazan hopes to become the state’s first Republican governor since the original Top Gun was in theaters.
She blames Democrats for homelessness, crime, and inflation in the state and said that electing Kotek would be the same as re-electing Kate Brown, who regularly polls as the nation’s least-popular governor.
Democrat Josh Shapiro Wins Election for Governor in Pennsylvania
Democrat Josh Shapiro wins election for governor in Pennsylvania.McCarthy Declares GOP Victory in House; Pelosi Not Conceding Yet
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has declared that Republicans will take back the House of Representatives.A GOP takeover of the House would likely mean that McCarthy will become the speaker of the House for the 118th Congress.
“I want to thank the millions of supporters across this country,” McCarthy said on Nov. 9. “It is clear we are going to take the House back.”
At the time of publication, the Associated Press has called winners in 371 of the 435 House seats up for grabs. This includes 199 Republicans and 172 Democrats.
Pelosi, Schumer Among Top Democrats Winning New Terms
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) won reelection in the midterm elections.They were among the Democrat leaders in both chambers who won new terms.
Pelosi, 82, won with 81.4 percent of the vote in the race to represent California’s 11th Congressional District, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office. She beat John Dennis, a Republican who called Pelosi “the ultimate swamp monster.”
Pelosi has been in Congress since 1987.
Paul Arteta Wins Orange County, New York, Sheriff Race With Wide Margin
Montgomery Deputy Police Chief Paul Arteta won the sheriff race in Orange County, New York, on Nov. 8.He got 60 percent, or 69,807 votes, as a candidate for both the Republican and Conservative parties, according to unofficial results published by the Orange County Board of Elections.
Bernie Rivers, the Democratic Party candidate, got 40 percent votes.
“Thank you, Orange County. Together, we delivered an overwhelming victory, and I’m honored to be your new Sheriff-elect,” Arteta wrote on his public Facebook page. “Now, let’s roll up our sleeves to make Orange County safer and even better!”
Ilhan Omar, Other ‘Squad’ Members Win Reelection
Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) were among the members of the so-called Squad winning reelection on Nov. 8.Omar, 40, had 74.3 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting while Ocasio-Cortez, 33, had 67 percent, according to unofficial results from the Minnesota and New York secretary of state offices.
Omar represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which covers Minneapolis and surrounding areas.
Republican Cicely Davis, a state director of BLEXIT-MN, the group founded by Candace Owens, challenged Omar.
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Wins 2nd Term
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won a second four-year term in Tuesday’s election, defeating Republican challenger Tudor Dixon in the battleground state where abortion had become a key issue.Whitmer was first elected in 2018 after years in the Legislature and has since become a leading voice in the Democratic Party. She has said in interviews that she will not run for president in 2024 even if President Joe Biden doesn’t seek reelection.
Nevada Races Too Close to Call After Biggest Counties Quit Counting Votes
Tossup races for the U.S. Senate, three House seats, and the governor’s office are too close to call in Nevada, especially after the state’s two largest counties stopped counting ballots a half-hour after polls closed on Nov. 8.In Clark County, where 70 percent of Nevadans live in and around Las Vegas, and in Washoe County, which includes Reno, vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots dropped off or delivered on Election Day will not be counted until Nov. 9, the Nevada secretary of state announced at 7:30 p.m. on election night.
Clark County Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria said delays in counting the ballots in his county are because of a manpower shortage and what appears to be a high turnout, especially just before polls closed at 7 p.m.
New Mexico Reelects Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham won reelection Tuesday to a second term by defeating Republican Mark Ronchetti.Lujan Grisham hitched her campaign to support for abortion access, along with legislative accomplishments that range from tax cuts to gun control and teacher pay raises.
Republicans Win Several House Races in New York City Suburbs
Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives notched several wins in New York City’s suburbs, seizing a seat in an area once considered safely Democratic, defending others, and appearing on the verge of picking up additional wins in districts the party hasn’t won in years.The strong showing by Republicans on Long Island came after the city’s suburbs emerged as an unlikely battleground for control of the House. Several closely watched contests remained too early to call Wednesday morning, including the reelection race of U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Defeats Republican Challenger Tim Michels for Second Term
Wisconsin Democrat Gov. Tony Evers has secured a second term in office, defeating former President Donald Trump-endorsed businessman Tim Michels.Early Wednesday morning, Michels told supporters at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee that he had conceded to the current governor.
Tight California Races Emerge in Fight for US House Control
Partial returns Tuesday showed closely matched contests in a string of competitive California U.S. House races that will play into control of Congress next year.As voting ended across the country Republicans were optimistic they would gain a solid majority in the House but Democrats showed surprising strength and by Wednesday morning the balance of power was still in question. Overall in the House, there are 220 Democrats, 212 Republicans, and three vacancies.
In California the GOP believed as many as five districts in the state could swing their way—enough to give the GOP the House gavel in a midterm-election year when voters typically punish the party that holds the White House. Should that happen, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield would be in line to replace Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco.
Sen. Mark Kelly Takes Early Lead in Battleground Arizona
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly led his Republican rival, Blake Masters, but the race that could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate was too early to call.Kelly’s 2020 special election victory gave Democrats both of Arizona’s Senate seats for the first time in 70 years. It was propelled by the state’s fast-changing demographics.
Democrat Green Defeats Aiona to Be Hawaii’s Next Governor
Lt. Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat, on Tuesday defeated Republican former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona to be Hawaii’s next governor and vowed to tackle the state’s most stubborn problems.“Tonight is the first day of that new era where our leaders must start doing more to listen, to care, and to work on issues that matter to all of us, that matter to you,” Green told a crowd at the Democratic Party’s election celebration.
Voter ID Passes in Nebraska as States Settle Ballot Items
Residents of Nebraska approved a new photo identification requirement for future elections as voters in several states decided measures that could affect the way ballots are cast in the next presidential election.The voting-related measures were among more than 130 state proposals appearing on ballots, addressing contentious issues such as abortion, taxes, drug policy, and labor laws.
Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert in Tough Reelection Bid
Colorado Republican firebrand U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert was in a tight race for reelection against Democrat Adam Frisch, a former Aspen city councilman.Boebert has established herself as a national lightning rod in her first term, assailing inflation, crime, U.S. dependency on foreign oil, and U.S. border policy under President Joe Biden’s watch. Her midterm election prospects in Colorado’s mostly rural 3rd Congressional District seemed boosted by redistricting that made the district more Republican. But the race was too early to call early Wednesday.
Governor, Senate Races Show Republicans Catching Up in Swing and Deep Blue States
As the midterm results continue to roll in, governor and Senate races in swing states and deep blue states show Republicans catching up to Democrats, suggesting growing support among voters for a red wave to wash across America’s political landscape.After all the polls closed on Election Day, the Democrats’ fragile grip on power was at risk as Republicans pushed state by state in a grinding bid to break the Democrats’ one-party hold on Washington.
In the House, Republicans were ahead of Democrats 199 to 172, with 371 of 435 seats up for election called and 218 needed for a majority, according to Associated Press data.
GOP Rep. Bacon Wins Reelection in Tight Nebraska Race
Incumbent Republican Rep. Don Bacon has secured reelection, beating Democratic challenger Tony Vargas in a tight race for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.The Associated Press called the race for Bacon, who won 51.9 percent of the vote to Vargas’s 48.1 percent with 97 percent of the votes reported as of 2:42 a.m. ET on Nov. 9.
It shaped up as a close race. Of the two most recent polls listed on the politics website FiveThirtyEight, one favored Vargas, and one favored Bacon, each by a single point and within the margin of error.
New Hampshire’s Veteran Democrat Keeps Congressional Seat
Annie Kuster, one of New Hampshire’s longest-serving members of U.S. Congress, has upset a challenge by Republican Robert Burns for her seat in the state’s 2nd Congressional district.The Associated Press called the race with Kuster garnering 56.7 percent of the vote, versus Burns’s 43.3 percent with 60 percent reporting of the votes as of 2:17 a.m. ET on Nov. 9.
The veteran politician has maintained ultra-liberal viewpoints in her representation of the “Live Free or Die” state.
Republicans See Gains, But Chances of Red Wave Diminish as Democrats Over-perform
Republican candidates have managed to push ahead of Democrats in the midterms, but the predicted red wave appears to have turned out to be little more than a ripple.As of 3:30 a.m. ET, the GOP is still on track to take over the House of Representatives but may eke out only a razor-thin majority.
In the Senate, the balance of power is likely to remain unchanged with Democrats on an easier path to shore in at least 50 seats with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaker to keep them in control.
‘Freedom Is Here to Stay,’ Says DeSantis in Victory Speech After Securing 2nd Term
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touted the success of his state, one that he described as embodying “true American principles,” as he thanked voters for handing him a “historic landslide victory.”“Thank you for honoring us with a win for the ages,” DeSantis added.
Former Trump Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders Elected Governor of Arkansas
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, has been elected the governor of her home state of Arkansas.Sanders, who had been heavily favored to win the race, defeated her Democrat opponent, Chris Jones, with over 62.9 percent of the vote.
The victory makes Sanders the first female governor of Arkansas. She joins other female Republican governors including Gov. Kate Ivey of Alabama, Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, and Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota.
Ted Budd Claims North Carolina’s Open Senate Seat for Republicans
Republican Ted Budd has defeated Democrat challenger Cheri Beasley in North Carolina’s Senate race, giving his party a pickup in their fight to secure a majority in the upper chamber.“I want to thank President Donald J Trump, North Carolina’s own Lara Trump, and the entire Trump family for everything that they are doing to make our country great again,” the three-term congressman said during his victory speech at Winston-Salem, his birthplace.
“I also want to take a moment and recognize my opponent, Justice Cheri Beasley,” Budd continued. “We spoke on the phone, and I want to thank her for her service to our state. We’ve been running a spirited race. And finally, I want to thank the people of North Carolina for delivering this victory tonight.”
Walker-Warnock Senate Race in Georgia Too Early to Call; Runoff Possible
The hotly contested Senate race in Georgia is without a winner as of early morning on Nov. 9, with Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Republican challenger Herschel Walker locked in a close contest, potentially moving the race to a Dec. 6 runoff.As of press time, Warnock has picked up about 1.92 million votes, or 49.3 percent, compared to Walker’s roughly 1.89 million votes, or 48.6 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ. About 99 percent of the votes in Georgia have been counted.
Warnock has remained confident about winning the race. Writing on Twitter at around 2:45 a.m. ET, the incumbent said he will have more votes than his opponent.
Rep. Chris Pappas Defeats 25-Year-Old Republican in New Hampshire’s 1st District US House Election
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) has triumphed over Karoline Leavitt, the Republican who was seeking to become the youngest American to be elected to U.S. Congress since 1797, in the race to represent New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District.Pappas, 52, will serve another term representing the district after receiving 54 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press, which called the race along with Decision Desk HQ. With about 80 percent of precincts reporting, Leavitt had 46 percent.
“Thank you, New Hampshire! You sent a clear and powerful message: Granite Staters want leaders in Congress who work together to find common purpose and use common sense,” Pappas said in a statement. “I’m honored to have earned your trust for another two years. Now, back to work.”
Ogles Wins Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, Flipping Seat Red
Republican Andy Ogles, who campaigned as a pro-Donald Trump “America First” conservative, has defeated Democratic state Sen. Heidi Campbell in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.Texas Republican Mayra Flores Fails to Hold Congressional Seat
Republican Rep. Mayra Flores has been defeated by Democratic challenger Vicente Gonzalez in Texas’ 34th Congressional District.The Associated Press reported that Gonzalez had a total of 52.7 percent of the vote with 88 percent of the vote reported as of 2 a.m. ET. Flores held 44.3 percent of the vote.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” Flores said to a sedate crowd at her watch party in Weslaco but added the votes weren’t adding up to her advantage.
“I can’t thank you enough. This has always been about God, family, and hard work,” she said, though she did not formally concede the race.
Minnesota Democrat Rep. Craig Wins Reelection in Rematch With Tyler
In Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig and retired U.S. Marine Tyler Kistner faced off in a rematch of a 2020 election won by Craig.This time, Craig again trounced her opponent to retain her seat in a tightly contested race.
The Associated Press called the race for Craig, who won 50.9 percent while Kistner received 45.8 percent, with 95 reporting of the votes as of 2:30 a.m. ET on Nov. 9.
Both parties considered the district a pivotal election.
Fetterman Projected Winner of US Senate Race
About 90 minutes after his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, told supporters that victory was still possible, Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate, John Fetterman, had widened his lead, prompting several media outlets to call the race for Fetterman.Then Fetterman proclaimed victory in a tweet just before 1 a.m. Nov. 9: “It’s official. I will be the next U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.”
By that time, Oz’s election-night “watch party” had dispersed from the Newtown Athletic Club. Around 11:30 p.m., Oz told a crowd of 350 guests, “When all of the ballots are counted, we believe we will win this race.” Oz stayed on stage for only about two minutes with his family as he also thanked supporters.
Conservative Georgia Poll Worker Says She Was Ejected From Polling Site
A poll worker says she was removed from a polling site in Johns Creek, Georgia.Laura Kronen told The Epoch Times that she was told the removal was because of recent Twitter posts, but she suspects they removed her because she’s politically conservative.
“We did everything we were supposed to do. We went to our pep rally on Sunday night for the coworker people. And then we showed up this morning at 5 a.m. To begin our poll working, we opened up all the polls, we opened up all the poll pads, we did everything we’re supposed to be doing shortly before the polls were about to open,” she said.
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