According to the Associated Press, Democratic US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has defeated Republican challenger Adam Laxalt, a former state attorney general who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
Democrats retained control of the Senate after a crucial race in Nevada was declared in their favour, cementing the party's midterm election performance that far exceeded expectations.
According to the Associated Press, Democratic US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has defeated Republican challenger Adam Laxalt, a former state attorney general who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
With Masto's victory coming on the heels of Democratic senator Mark Kelly's re-election in Arizona late Friday, the Democrats now have 50 seats in the Senate, while Republicans have 49.
The Georgia contest is slated for a runoff in December, but even if Republicans win there, a 50-50 split means Democrats essentially control the Senate since the tie vote goes to the vice president, Kamala Harris.
For the Republicans, it was another blow after they steeply underperformed in many races. The party had touted hopes of a “red wave” that could sweep across the US and deliver the upper chamber of Congress into their hands. Instead – with a few exceptions, such as Florida – the wave was more of a trickle.
The Democratic Senate victory is sure to spark more recrimination among Republicans over who is to blame for the dismal showing. Much attention has been drawn to Trump as a result of his support for right-wing or celebrity candidates in numerous critical contests, including Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania.
The triumph is also a boost for President Joe Biden, who saw his party defy initial expectations that his poor popularity ratings and an electorate hammered by soaring prices would result in a landslide defeat. The Democrats also bucked historical precedence, since the party in power usually loses badly in midterm elections.
The election results are expected to put to rest rumours that Biden may withdraw from the presidential contest in 2024 and leave office after only one term.
Now, he can point to excellent domestic legislation enacted during his first two years as president, as well as a respectable midterm result, to build internal party support.
In a related development, SaharaReporters had reported how politicians of Nigerian descent won their legislative seats during Georgia, Pennsylvania and Minnesota State elections.
This was also confirmed by the chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa on Twitter.
"These Nigerian Americans won their elections in Georgia last night. A hearty congrats to them all #ProudlyNigerian.
"Congratulations to Segun Adeyina, Gabe Okoye, Solomon Adesanya, Tish Naghise, Phil Olaleye, Carol Kazeem, Oye Owolewa and Esther Agbaje," she tweeted.