Senate and House election results 2020

Follow live updates on the presidential and congressional races here.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington, Delaware, on November 4.

This wasn’t the blue tidal wave a lot of Democrats had dreamed was possible. Joe Biden didn’t break open the map even though he’s got a commanding popular-vote lead.

But the party had a to-do list that expanded beyond the White House. And while it might have a President Biden (Remember: CNN has not yet projected a winner in the presidential race) at the end of the day after the votes are counted, it’s currently failing in other important areas, like:

Ritchie Torres, left, Sarah McBride and Madison Cawthorn.

While all eyes were on the race to the White House, history was being made around the country with a handful of historic firsts in elections for offices and ballot measures.

Here’s a look at some of them:

Delaware elects the nation’s first transgender state senator

Democratic activist Sarah McBride will become the nation’s first person who publicly identifies as transgender to serve as a state senator, after winning Tuesday’s election in Delaware, CNN projects.

McBride, a former spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, overwhelmingly beat Republican candidate Steve Washington in Delaware’s 1st District, a heavily Democratic district that includes the city of Wilmington.

“I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too,” McBride tweeted Tuesday night.

Oklahoma elects the first nonbinary state legislator in the US

Mauree Turner won her race for Oklahoma state House for District 88 on Tuesday, becoming the first nonbinary state legislator in US history and first Muslim lawmaker in Oklahoma.

Turner, 27, defeated Republican candidate Kelly Barlean to represent the district, winning about 71% of the votes, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board unofficial results. Her victory comes after beating incumbent Rep. Jason Dunnington in the district’s Democratic primary election in June.

Turner identifies as nonbinary, which the National Center for Transgender Equality defines as gender understood as neither male nor female.

New York elects America’s first Black member of Congress who identifies as gay

Ritchie Torres, a New York City Council member, won his US House race to represent the South Bronx, becoming the first black member of Congress who identifies as gay.

Torres, 32, overwhelmingly defeated Republican Patrick Delices in the district, one of the poorest and most Democratic in the country, after winning a 12-way Democratic primary in June.

“Tonight, we made history,” he tweeted. “It is the honor of a lifetime to represent the essential borough, the Bronx.”

North Carolina elects youngest member of Congress in modern history

At 25 years old, Madison Cawthorn will become the youngest member of Congress in modern history, according to US House records. CNN projects the Republican will beat Democrat Moe Davis for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.

Cawthorn, a political newcomer and staunch conservative, pulled off a surprise primary victory over a candidate backed by President Donald Trump.

Cawthorn came under scrutiny over the summer for photos on his Instagram page that show him in 2017 visiting Adolf Hitler’s vacation house in Germany known as the “Eagle’s Nest.” The caption refers to Hitler as “the Fuhrer” and says that a visit to the site — a popular tourist destination documenting the horrors of the Nazi regime — had been on his “bucket list for awhile” and “did not disappoint.”

New Mexico elects the first all-female congressional delegation – and they’re also women of color

Three New Mexico women won their districts making them the first all-female congressional delegation to represent a state.

Deb Haaland, one of the first Native American woman in Congress, was re-elected for her second term. Yvette Herell, a member of the Cherokee Nation, won her race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District and Teresa Leger Fernandez won her race for the 3rd. Leger Fernandez is the first woman to hold her seat since its creation in 1983.

Missouri elects state’s first Black woman to Congress — and she’s a veteran Black Lives Matter activist

Cori Bush, a progressive community leader and veteran Black Lives Matter activist, won a US House seat in Missouri, becoming the state’s first Black woman to represent the state in Congress, according to CNN projections.

Bush, a nurse and a pastor, became an organizer and protest leader after the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014.

“This is definitely a night to remember,” Bush said in a speech on Tuesday.

Arizona, New Jersey and South Dakota vote to legalize recreational marijuana

Voters have approved ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona and New Jersey, and both recreational and medical use in in South Dakota, CNN projects.

South Dakota will be the first state ever to approve medical and recreational marijuana measures at the same time.

Results have not yet been determined for Montana’s ballot questions on recreational marijuana and Mississippi’s medical marijuana measure.

The initiatives would only be the first step in the process, said John Hudak, deputy director at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in state and federal marijuana policy.

After voters approve the measures, he said, the state legislatures normally would need to set up regulatory structures within each state. Currently, 11 states have legalized full, adult marijuana use.

Oregon decriminalizes the possession of heroin, meth and other hard drugs

In a first in the nation, Oregon passed a ballot measure decriminalizing the possession of heroin, oxycodone, meth and other hard drugs. Instead of possible jail time, a person would be able to pay a $100 fine or enter addiction treatment.

On Tuesday the state also legalized the use of psilocybin mushrooms — the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms — for mental-health treatment.

The measure requires the Oregon Health Authority to allow licensed, regulated production and possession of psilocybin, exclusively for administration by licensed facilitators to clients.

Mississippi approves new state flag

Mississippi’s new state flag will feature the magnolia flower after the state in a historic move this summer parted with its decades-old banner that included a Confederate battle emblem.

Voters on Tuesday approved the “In God We Trust” magnolia design as the new state flag, CNN projected.

The state Legislature will now have to enact into law the new design as Mississippi’s official state flag during its next regular session in 2021.

Mississippi was the last state in the country whose flag, which was adopted in 1894, included the Confederate emblem.

You can follow the latest results in the House here and Senate here

As results for congressional races continue come in, here’s how the balance of in Congress looks like right now.

In the Senate, Democrats have 47 seats while Republicans have 47. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 199 seats and Republicans have 188. The party that has at least 218 seats will control that chamber.

In this May 13, 2019 photo, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace discusses being sexually assaulted in Columbia, South Carolina.

Republican Nancy Mace will win South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, defeating incumbent Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham, CNN projects.

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas speaks during a press conference on the situation at the southern border in Washington on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

Republican Rep. Chip Roy will win his reelection bid in Texas’ 21st Congressional District, CNN projects.

Lauren Boebert, the Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in Colorado's vast 3rd Congressional District, during a freedom cruise staged by her supporters on Friday, September 4, in Pueblo West, Colorado.

Republican Lauren Boebert will win Colorados’s 3rd Congressional District, CNN projects.

Boebert is among a group of congressional candidates who have engaged with the QAnon conspiracy theory.

Republican candidate for Indiana's 5th Congressional District Victoria Spartz talks with women at a fundraiser coffee in Carmel, Tuesday, August 25.

Republican Victoria Spartz will win a House seat in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, CNN projects.

As results for congressional races continue come in, here’s how the balance of in Congress looks like right now.

In the Senate, Democrats have 47 seats while Republicans have 47. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 199 seats and Republicans have 184. The party that has at least 218 seats will control that chamber.

Democratic Sen. Gary Peters will win reelection in Michigan, CNN projects.

As results for congressional races continue to come in, here’s how the balance of power in Congress looks like right now.

Here are some of Senate seats that are up for grabs and where each race stands:

Arizona:

Michigan:

North Carolina:

Georgia:

Maine:

Alaska:

CNN’s Dana Bash reports:

Video Ad Feedback

4dcfa637-a74b-4ae4-ac59-718f9649e28c.mp4

02:10 - Source: cnn

House Democrats were shell-shocked Wednesday after they watched their party lose seats, meaning they are poised to hold a smaller majority next Congress despite the bullish predictions of party bosses in the run-up to the elections.

Some Democrats told CNN the party needs to fine-tune its message and begin to push a stronger economic agenda  — or risk losing the majority in the next elections. And others wanted a shakeup in leadership  —namely for Rep. Cheri Bustos, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, to be ousted from her job.

Rep. Filemon Vela said Bustos should step aside after the “bloodbath” the party endured since a number of freshmen Democrats stand likely to lose their races when the votes are ultimately counted. Bustos is struggling to hang onto her own House seat in Illinois, as CNN has not made a projection in that tight race.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears secure in her position as speaker despite second-guessing in the ranks, with no challengers yet emerging, lawmakers said.

Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged Pelosi in the past, told CNN Wednesday he wouldn’t do it again this time. Asked if he thought there should be any changes in leadership, Ryan declined to comment.

“I got enough scar tissue on those fights to last me a lifetime,” Ryan said.

But Ryan said of the outcome in House races: “I think there’s a lot of people who are disappointed from top-to-bottom,” while contending that the party should sharpen its economic message in an effort to appeal to working-class voters.

“We have got to live and breathe in that economic space,” Ryan said.

As results for congressional races continue come in, here’s how the balance of in Congress looks like right now.

In the Senate, Democrats have 46 seats while Republicans have 47. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 181 seats and Republicans have 175. The party that has at least 218 seats will control that chamber.

CNN projects that Republican candidates will win these House races:

Republican Sen. Susan Collins speaks on November 4 in Bangor, Maine.

Democratic Senate candidate Sara Gideon has conceded her race to Republican incumbent Susan Collins in Maine.

“Just now I spoke with Senator Collins. I congratulated her on winning this election,” Gideon said in a concession speech Wednesday afternoon.

She also tweeted “I’m proud of the campaign we ran, regardless of the result.”

Collins faces a tight race and had a unique set of circumstances due to Maine’s ranked choice process, which requires a candidate to reach a 50% threshold to claim victory.

CNN has not projected the winner of the US Senate race in Maine.

The defeat would be a major blow to Democrats, who have already come up short over the past 24 hours in a number of races where they were competing in hopes of flipping the chamber. Democrats’ chances of controlling the Senate are now rapidly diminishing.

How does ranked-choice voting work?

Maine’s ranked-choice voting system lets voters literally rank their choices in order of preference, marking candidates as their first, second and third choice picks (and so on).

The winner must have a majority (more than 50% of the votes) rather than a plurality (simply the most votes).

In Maine, ranked choice only takes effect when three or more candidates are on the ballot. Voting is counted by round, with lowest-ranked candidates eliminated in each round until only two candidates remain.

Read more here. 

See Gideon’s tweet:

Correction: An earlier version of this post said Collins won the Maine Senate race. Democratic Senate candidate Sara Gideon has conceded, but CNN has not yet projected the winner of the US Senate race in Maine.

Stephanie Bice, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Michelle Fischbach

Republicans have touted their efforts to increase diverse recruits this cycle, some of whom have already won according to CNN projections.

At least seven new Republican women will join the conference  — an increase from after the 2018 midterms, when just one new GOP woman was part of the freshman class.

That means that even with two of the 13 Republican women currently in the House retiring at the end of this year, they’re set to see a net increase in 2021.

Some of those women include Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has promoted the QAnon conspiracy and kept an open seat in Georgia in GOP hands, and at least four others who held onto seats rated Solid Republican by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, a CNN contributor.

Republican women have also flipped Democratic seats, with Michelle Fischbach unseating Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, the House Agriculture Committee Chairman, and Stephanie Bice defeating freshman Democratic Rep. Kendra Horn in Oklahoma. 

 Read more here.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks with reporters during a press conference in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he’s unsure whether Republicans will hold onto the majority after several tight Senate remained open Wednesday although he expressed confidence that the numbers might be turning the GOP’s way.  

He also said it’s “not unusual” for close elections to be disputed but raised none of the concerns President Donald Trump did about the election being stolen. And he acknowledged Republicans need to improve their standing with suburban voters.

McConnell said it’s not clear if GOP Sen. Susan Collins will avoid ranked voting in Maine – a unique voting process in Maine that could be used to pick a winner — and whether Republican Sen. David Perdue will avoid a runoff in Georgia. CNN has not called either race. And while Republicans have so far narrowed the path to a majority for Democrats, control of the Senate remains within either party’s reach.

But McConnell said he expects to get a “definitive answer” about the results of the North Carolina and Maine Senate races today. Adding that it’s less clear in Michigan where it’s neck-and-neck between Democratic Sen. Gary Peters and GOP challenger John James.

“If my math is correct and we win in North Carolina and Maine, I’ll still the offensive coordinator,” he said.  

“The Squad” always expected to expand their ranks on Tuesday. What few Democrats predicted, though, was that their House caucus would actually lose seats overall, as appears to be the case with a few swing district incumbents trailing their Republican challengers.

House progressives are in a period of flux. The arrival of Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley gave the left a stronger voice than it’s had in decades, but their numbers were modest, even including a few reliable allies. When the rubber hit the road, Speaker Nancy Pelosi could do without their votes – a fact she rarely shied from discussing in public.

But on Tuesday, that dynamic might’ve begun to change.

New York’s Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones, Missouri’s Cori Bush, and Marie Newman in Illinois all look to have stamped their tickets to Capitol Hill, replacing either incumbent or retiring moderate and conservative Democrats. Meanwhile, a handful of moderate Democrats are on pace to either be unseated by Republican challengers or fell short in their own.

The likely result: a bigger “squad” in a slightly smaller Democratic caucus. And with it, more leverage as the next Congress begins.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus had already taken steps to sharpen its posture, and potentially apply some new litmus tests for membership, before the election. But whether the caucus can marshal its members and their votes – or at least apply credible pressure to leadership – when trying to push or scuttle a piece of legislation, remains to be seen.

For now, the idea of a group defection – in the way the right-wing Freedom Caucus broke off from the conservative Republican Study Committee – doesn’t appear to be in the cards. But that can change. The Democratic majority, likely diminished but surely intact, will have difficult decisions to make as soon as they’re sworn-in – especially if Republicans keep hold of the Senate and there are negotiations on what will be a deeply unsatisfying compromise pandemic relief package.

Justice Democrats communications director Waleed Shahid didn’t shy away from the stakes.

“A progressive voting bloc and moving as a cohesive caucus is going to be more important than ever before,” he said.

After a surprisingly good night for House Republicans, who appear poised to gain seats but fall short of the majority, GOP aides expect the top three GOP leaders to retain their posts.

Aides said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Conference Chair Liz Cheney have been making calls to lock down support to get re-elected for their current spots. 

Additionally, Rep. Tom Emmer, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, has been making calls to lock down support to keep that job.

You can view real time results of all the House races here.

Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush speaks during her election-night watch party on November 3 at campaign headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.

Cori Bush, a progressive activist and veteran of the racial justice protest movement, won a House seat in Missouri, becoming the first Black woman to represent the state in Congress, according to CNN projections.

Bush defeated newcomer Republican Anthony Rogers by a 79% to 19% margin in the race to represent Missouri’s 1st congressional district, which covers St. Louis and parts of St. Louis County. She was expected to win the general election after her upset in the Democratic primary over incumbent Rep. William Lacy Clay – a Black lawmaker who, along with his father former Rep. William Clay Sr., had represented the district for 50 years.

“This is definitely a night to remember,” Bush said in a speech on Tuesday.

Bush, a nurse and a pastor, became an organizer and protest leader after the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014. She ran on a progressive platform, championing policies including Medicare-For-All and the Green New Deal.

Her win is a victory for the progressive left, coming as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley – known as the Squad – won reelection. She also joins fellow progressive Jamaal Bowman in New York, who won his House race, according to CNN projections.

Road to the Capitol: This was Bush’s third run for Congress. She ran for US Senate and lost in 2016, and unsuccessfully challenged Clay for his House seat in 2018. 

This time, she raised more money and benefited from heightened visibility, securing the backing of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the youth-led Sunrise Movement and other leftist and progressive leaders.

The primary race also took place during a national uprising against racial injustice after the killing of George Floyd and the coronavirus pandemic, which has disproportionately affected people of color.

“To all the counted outs, the forgotten abouts, the marginalized, and the pushed asides. This is our moment,” Bush wrote on Twitter. “We came together to end a 52-year family dynasty. That’s how we build the political revolution.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio congratulated New Jersey for legalizing marijuana, something he says he believes in and “has to be done the right way” in New York.

Voters in New Jersey and Arizona approved ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana on Tuesday, along with South Dakota, that approved marijuana for both recreational and medical use, according to CNN projections.

South Dakota will be the first state ever to approve medical and recreational marijuana measures at the same time.

Results have not yet been determined for Montana’s ballot questions on recreational marijuana and Mississippi’s medical marijuana measure.

The initiatives would only be the first step in the process, said John Hudak, deputy director at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in state and federal marijuana policy.

After voters approve the measures, he said, the state legislatures normally would need to set up regulatory structures within each state. Currently, 11 states have legalized full, adult marijuana use.

You can read more detail on each state’s marijuana ballot here.

Republicans had a better night than expected holding on to some of their House seats. At least two incumbent Democrats were ousted by GOP challengers, and more could come as many races are yet to be called.

On the Democratic side, all four congresswomen of “the Squad” — Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts — won reelection. Since taking office in January 2019, the lawmakers, all women of color, have electrified the progressive base thanks to their social media savvy but have also attracted controversy, most notably over their criticism of the US relationship with Israel.

Based on the races called so far, here’s what the balance of power look like in the House right now:

Democrats have 181 seats. Republicans have 171 seats.

You can view real time results of all the House races here.

It’s the morning after Election Day, and CNN has not yet projected who will win in 7 of the 35 2020 Senate races. 

Republicans have dramatically narrowed the path for Democrats to take back the majority, preventing upsets in red states such as South Carolina, Iowa and Montana. But with much of the vote still being counted, Democrats could still win four of these remaining races — and the White House — to take the Senate majority.

Here’s a look at the states where Senate seats are still up for grabs:

Here’s a look at where the balance of power currently sits:

Watch breakdown of Senate races:

Video Ad Feedback

44330dc1-f12b-4ecd-9161-18531af2e71c.mp4

02:41 - Source: cnn

Madison Cawthorn answers questions at a forum in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 4.

At 25 years old, Madison Cawthorn will become the youngest member of Congress in modern history, according to US House records.

CNN projects the Republican will beat Democrat Moe Davis for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, once held by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

Cawthorn, a political newcomer and staunch conservative, pulled off a surprise primary victory over a candidate backed by President Trump.

New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was previously the youngest elected member in modern history at 29 years, 2 months and 22 days in 2018.

Cawthorn cited Ocasio-Cortez in his decision to run for office. He wrote on his website that he ran for office because “our faith, our freedoms and our values are under assault from coastal elites and leftists like (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.”

Who is Cawthorn? Cawthorn, who was partially paralyzed in a 2014 car accident, is the owner of a real estate investment company and a motivational speaker.

He is fiscally conservative, anti-abortion, pro-gun and an immigration hardliner. Cawthorn also supports term limits for members of Congress. He says he is an eighth generation resident of the 11th Congressional District, and that he was homeschooled in Hendersonville.

Some background: The youngest House member ever elected was William Charles Cole Claiborne of Tennessee, elected in 1797 at age 22. He was seated despite not meeting the constitutional age requirement of 25 for the House, according to US House records.

Meet the new youngest member of Congress:

Video Ad Feedback

554f2421-3486-4575-a067-d5ce0707f321.mp4

00:51 - Source: cnn

The election is far from over with millions of votes outstanding in key states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan — ballots that were cast before Election Day that have yet to be counted. 

Race to 270:

Based on CNN’s current projections, Joe Biden has 224 electoral votes while President Trump has 213 electoral votes.

Reminder: Each candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

These are the 9 states that have not been called yet:

These are the nine states that have not yet been called, whose electoral votes are still up for grabs:

US stock futures jittery on fears of a contested election:

US stock futures swung wildly early Wednesday as the prospects of a quick, decisive result to the election faded and President Trump made baseless claims about the vote, leaving investors on edge.

Uncertainty is the enemy of markets. Investors had hoped that early results would point to a clear winner sooner rather than later, avoiding the nightmare scenario of a contested election.

You can follow updates on the presidential race here.

It’s the morning after Election Day and if you’re just reading in, here’s a look at some of the issues voters have been deciding on across America:

Arizona, New Jersey, South Dakota vote to legalize recreational marijuana

Voters have approved ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona and New Jersey, and both recreational and medical use in in South Dakota, CNN projects.

South Dakota will be the first state ever to approve medical and recreational marijuana measures at the same time.

Results have not yet been determined for Montana’s ballot questions on recreational marijuana and Mississippi’s medical marijuana measure.

The initiatives would only be the first step in the process, said John Hudak, deputy director at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in state and federal marijuana policy.

After voters approve the measures, he said, the state legislatures normally would need to set up regulatory structures within each state. Currently, 11 states have legalized full, adult marijuana use.

You can read more detail on each state’s marijuana ballot here.

Louisiana voters approve amendment limiting abortion protections

Louisiana voters approved Proposed Amendment No. 1 by 62% to 38%, according to CNN projections. Should Roe be overturned, the amendment would prevent the state courts from declaring abortion restrictions unconstitutional at the state level.

The state isn’t the first to amend its constitution this way — Alabama and West Virginia did so in 2018, as did Tennessee in 2014.

The Louisiana ballot measure marked another attempt by the state to restrict abortion. The US Supreme Court struck down in June a Louisiana restriction barring doctors from performing the procedure unless they had admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, and a decision from a federal appellate court prevented the state’s “heartbeat” abortion ban, passed last year, from going into effect.

Colorado voters reject a ban on abortion beginning at 22 weeks of pregnancy

In Colorado, voters rejected Proposition 115 by a 59% to 41% vote, according to CNN projections. It would have banned abortion beginning at 22 weeks of pregnancy. The measure included exceptions to save the life of the pregnant woman but not for instances of rape or incest. Doctors who continue to perform abortions at 22 weeks would have faced a fine up to $5,000.

The results maintain Colorado as one of seven states that do not bar some abortions past a specific point in pregnancy, according to data from the abortion-rights research group the Guttmacher Institute. Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s office shows that women from more than 30 states have traveled to Colorado to access abortions.

A ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona has passed, CNN projects.

New Jersey also passed recreational marijuana use, and South Dakota passed both recreational and medical use, CNN projects.

South Dakota will be the first state ever to approve medical and recreational marijuana measures at the same time.

Results have not yet been determined for Montana’s ballot questions on recreational marijuana and Mississippi’s medical marijuana measure.

Arizona’s Proposition 207 will allow adults 21 and older to possess, consume or transfer up to 1 ounce of cannabis and create a regulatory system for the drug’s cultivation and sale.

A similar provision failed in 2016 by less than 3 points, but this time around, polling consistently found majority support. An October Monmouth University poll found 56% support for Proposition 207 among registered voters, and 36% opposed.

Advocates credit higher support for this year’s effort to a reworked ballot question. Besides legalizing marijuana, the proposition would set up a pathway to strike prior convictions for marijuana from criminal records and includes a provision for home growers.

Medical use has been legal in Arizona for a decade, and the state remains the only one in the country where the smallest possession of marijuana is still considered a felony.

Based on CNN’s current projections, this is how the balance of power in Congress is shaping up.

Democrats have 46 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 47. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 177 seats. Republicans have 170.

Republican Stephanie Bice will win Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Democratic Rep. Kendra Horn, CNN projects.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon defeats Democrat Kara Eastman in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, CNN projects.

Republican Rep. Richard Hudson will defeat Democrat Patricia Timmons-Goodson in North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, CNN projects.

Republican Troy Nehls has defeated Democrat Sri Kulkarni in Texas’ 22nd Congressional District, CNN projects.

Republican Rep. Ann Wagner will defeat Democrat Jill Schupp in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District, CNN projects.

Republican Rep. French Hill defeats Democrat Joyce Elliott in Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District, CNN projects.

Republican Michelle Fischbach will win Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson, CNN projects.

South Dakota will be the first state to approve medical and recreational marijuana measures at the same time, CNN projects.

Voters have approved two ballot measures to legalize recreational and medical marijuana in South Dakota. New Jersey’s ballot question is also projected to pass, making it the second state to see success with a legalization ballot question in this election.

Results have not yet been determined in Arizona and Montana’s ballot questions on recreational marijuana and Mississippi’s medical marijuana measure.

Currently, 11 states have legalized full, adult marijuana use. 

South Dakota had two measures on the ballot:

By approving both measures, according to CNN’s projections, South Dakota successfully leapfrogged a traditionally multi-step process.

Many states have followed a multi-year path toward full legalization, starting with decriminalization, followed by medical use and then full legalization. No other state has ever completed multiple steps at once.

South Dakota currently has tough penalties for possession of even small amounts of cannabis.

Republican Gov. Kristi Noem opposed both ballot measures, and recently appeared in an advertisement urging a “no” vote against full legalization.

Louisiana voters decided to amend the state’s constitution by adding language that expressly states the document offers no protections for a right to abortion or the funding of abortion, CNN projects. 

Louisiana voters weren’t the only ones weighing in on abortion restrictions on the ballot. Colorado voters rejected a ban on abortion beginning at 22 weeks of pregnancy.

Louisiana Amendment No. 1 will prevent the state courts from declaring abortion restrictions unconstitutional at the state level should Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court case legalizing abortion, be overturned. It was approved by a 62% to 38% margin.

The US Supreme Court struck down in June a Louisiana restriction barring doctors from performing the procedure unless they had admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, and a decision from a federal appellate court prevented the state’s “heartbeat” abortion ban, passed last year, from going into effect.

Based on CNN’s current projections, this is how the balance of power in Congress is shaping up.

Democrats have 46 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 47. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 177 seats. Republicans have 161.

Republican Greg Gianforte will win the governor’s race in Montana, CNN projects.

This was Gianforte’s second bid for the governor’s mansion after losing four years ago to Gov. Steve Bullock.

A loyal supporter of Trump, Gianforte made national headlines during his 2017 special election to Congress when he was accused of assaulting a reporter. Trump praised Gianforte’s behavior at the time, saying, “any guy who can do a body slam … he’s my guy.” Gianforte eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault.

Correction: The headline of this post incorrectly stated that Greg Gianforte won the Missouri governorship. The post has been updated to show he won the Montana governorship.

GOP Sen. Steve Daines will win reelection in Montana, CNN projects.

Based on CNN’s current projections, this is how the balance of power in Congress is shaping up.

Democrats have 46 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 46. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 171 seats. Republicans have 156.

It’s a bit past 2 a.m. ET and Joe Biden leads the electoral count, with 220 votes.

President Trump has 213 electoral votes.

Votes are still being counted in several key states, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Reminder: Each candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Follow here for live updates

Democrat Kathy Manning won the House seat in North Carolina’s 6th congressional district, CNN projects, beating Republican Lee Haywood.

GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith will win reelection in Mississippi, CNN projects.

Democrat Ben Ray Luján will win the Senate race in New Mexico, CNN projects.

Democratic Sen. Tina Smith will win reelection in Minnesota, CNN projects.

Based on CNN’s current projections, this is how the balance of power in Congress is shaping up.

Democrats have 44 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 45. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 154 seats. Republicans have 155.

GOP Sen. Joni Ernst will win reelection in Iowa, CNN projects.

All four congresswomen — Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts — have won reelection. 

Since taking office in January 2019, the lawmakers, all women of color, have electrified the progressive base thanks to their social media savvy but have also attracted controversy, most notably over their criticism of the US relationship with Israel.

Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley will win reelection in Massachusetts, CNN projects.

Pressley is a member of “The Squad” — a group of four first-term, progressive Democratic congresswomen, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

GOP Sen. James Risch will win reelection in Idaho, CNN projects.

Democratic Sen. Jack Reed will win reelection in Rhode Island, CNN projects.

Based on CNN’s current projections, this is how the balance of power in Congress is shaping up.

Democrats have 43 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 43. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 139 seats. Republicans have 146.

Sen. Mark Warner gestures toward former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and his wife Anne Hoton, left, while his wife Lisa Collis, right, looks as during his address to the news media about his Senate race against Daniel Gabe, on election night in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner will win reelection in Virginia, CNN projects.

South Dakota voters have approved a measure to legalize medical marijuana, CNN projects.

It was one of two marijuana-related questions on the ballot in South Dakota. The other, for full legalization, has not yet been called.

Measure 26 will establish a medical cannabis program and registration system for people with qualifying conditions.

Should the measure for recreational legalization also pass, South Dakota would be the first state to approve both simultaneously. Historically, states have moved in stages, first by decriminalizing, then approving medical marijuana and finally legalizing recreational marijuana.

Washington’s Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee will win reelection, CNN projects.

Republican candidate for senate Roger Marshall speaks to supporters at an election watch party in Topeka on Tuesday.

Republican Roger Marshall will win the Senate race in Kansas, CNN projects.

Democrat Deborah Ross will defeat Republican Alan Swain in the House race for North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district, CNN projects.

It’s just past 11:30 p.m. ET and Joe Biden leads the electoral count, with 192 votes.

President Trump has 114 electoral votes.

Votes are still being counted in several key states, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Reminder: Each candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Follow here for live updates

Mississippi’s new state flag will feature the magnolia flower after the state in a historic move this summer parted with its decades-old banner that included a Confederate battle emblem. 

Sixty-eight percent of voters approved the “In God We Trust” magnolia design as the new state flag, while 32% voted against it, according to CNN projections.

The state Legislature will now have to enact into law the new design as Mississippi’s official state flag during its next regular session in 2021.

The flag features a white magnolia blossom on a dark blue backdrop, with red bands and gold stripes — fitting for the Southern state whose nickname is the Magnolia State, whose state flower is the magnolia and whose state tree is the magnolia tree.  

The flower is surrounded by 20 stars, signifying Mississippi’s status at the 20th state in the union, and a gold five-point star to reflect Mississippi’s indigenous Native American tribes.

Mississippi was the last state in the country whose flag, which was adopted in 1894, included the Confederate emblem.

Advocates for changing the flag had argued the Confederate insignia was a reminder of America’s war to uphold slavery and a painful symbol for Black Americans. They also argued the 1894 flag hampered the state’s economic growth.

GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham will win reelection in South Carolina, CNN projects, defeating Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison.

Graham, a lawyer by training, had long been involved in South Carolina politics. He served four terms in the US House of Representatives and has held his Senate seat since 2003.

Harrison gained attention for raising huge amounts of money, but he was still a long shot just a few months ago. South Carolina is a deep red state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998. President Trump will win the state’s nine electoral votes, CNN projected earlier Tuesday night.

Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks after his reelection:

Video Ad Feedback

f3799e3f-64c2-4d74-a63a-4575ad3f9cad.mp4

03:34 - Source: cnn

Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler

The seat will go into a runoff between Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who currently holds the seat, and Democrat Raphael Warnock.

Based on CNN’s current projections, this is how the balance of power in Congress is shaping up.

Democrats have 42 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 41. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 97 seats. Republicans have 137.

CNN’s Dana Bash walks through the latest:

Video Ad Feedback

83164c91-090d-4dd9-9a17-1a7d5d6fef41.mp4

01:59 - Source: cnn

Republican Rep. Liz Cheney will win reelection in Wyoming, CNN projects.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley will win reelection in Oregon, CNN projects.

Virginia voters decided to give the job of redistricting for US House and state legislative districts to a commission, removing it from the legislature and governor, CNN projects.

Question 1, a state constitutional amendment approved by Virginia voters, will establish a 16-person commission of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens. That new commission is responsible for drawing congressional and state legislative districts. The General Assembly will then vote on the districts, but not change them.

According to current state law, the General Assembly and the governor draw the new election districts for the US House of Representatives, the state Senate and the House of Delegates.

Republican Cynthia Lummis will win the Senate race in Wyoming, CNN projects.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will win reelection in New York, CNN projects.

Ocasio-Cortez is a member of “The Squad” — a group of four first-term, progressive Democratic congresswomen, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin will win reelection in Illinois, CNN projects.

Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson will win reelection, CNN projects

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib will win reelection in Michigan, CNN projects.

Tlaib is a member of “The Squad” — a group of four first-term, progressive Democratic congresswomen, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy will win reelection in Louisiana, CNN projects.

Republican Spencer Cox will win the governor’s race in Utah, CNN projects.

Republican Tommy Tuberville will win the Senate race in Alabama, defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, CNN projects.

In Colorado, voters rejected Proposition 115, which would have banned abortion beginning at 22 weeks of pregnancy, according to CNN projections.

The measure would have included exceptions to save the life of the pregnant woman but not for instances of rape or incest. Doctors who continued to perform abortions at 22 weeks could have faced a fine up to $5,000. Voters rejected the measure by a 60% to 40% margin, according to CNN projections.

Colorado is one of two states where voters are weighing in on abortion restrictions this Election Day. 

In Louisiana, voters are considering whether to amend the state’s constitution to add language that expressly states the document offers no protections for a right to abortion or the funding of abortion. Louisiana’s Proposed Amendment No. 1 would prevent the state courts from declaring abortion restrictions unconstitutional at the state level should Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court case legalizing abortion, be overturned.

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar will win reelection in Minnesota, CNN projects.

Omar is a member of “The Squad” — a group of four first-term, progressive Democratic congresswomen, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

New Jersey voters have approved a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana, CNN projects.

New Jersey’s Public Question No. 1 put the question directly to voters: “Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis’?” Voters approved it by a 66% to 34% vote margin, according to CNN projections.

It proposed to amend the state constitution to legalize cannabis for personal, non-medical use by adults 21 and older. The state commission that oversees the medical market will also regulate the personal market.

Legalization measures are also on the ballot in Arizona, Montana and South Dakota. Mississippi voters are also weighing a pair of ballot questions to legalize medical marijuana. 

Pre-election polling showed that the ballots initiatives had support in New Jersey, as well as Arizona and Montana.

Based on CNN’s current projections, this is how the balance of power in Congress is shaping up.

Democrats have 40 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 38. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 80 seats. Republicans have 114.

GOP Sen. John Cornyn will win reelection in Texas, CNN projects.

GOP Sen. Ben Sasse will win reelection in Nebraska, CNN projects.

Republican Tommy Tuberville and Democratic Sen. Doug Jones

Democratic Sen. Doug Jones is facing a tough race in Alabama against Republican Tommy Tuberville tonight.

Here’s what you need to know:

Challenger: Republican Tommy Tuberville, former college football coach

Incumbent: Democratic Sen. Doug Jones

Why this race is important

Ever since scandal-plagued Roy Moore lost the GOP nomination earlier this year, there hasn’t been much that could displace Jones as the most vulnerable senator of the year.

Even against Moore, who was facing allegations of sexual assault, the Democrat only barely won a 2017 special election. He’s out raising and outspending Tuberville, and his best path to victory remains turning out Black voters. But that doesn’t look like enough to overcome the partisan lean of the state.

Trump won Alabama by 28 points, and unlike in some other red states he carried in 2016, where his margins are slipping, he’s holding up pretty well in the Yellowhammer State.

Democrat John Hickenlooper will win the Senate race in Colorado, defeating incumbent GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, CNN projects.

More on Colorado: Joe Biden will win the state, CNN projects.

There are nine electoral votes at stake in Colorado. It takes 270 electoral votes to win the 2020 presidential election.

North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will win reelection, CNN projects.

North Dakota’s Republican Gov. Doug Burgum will win reelection, CNN projects.

Based on CNN’s current projections, this is how the balance of power in Congress is shaping up.

Democrats have 39 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 36. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 54 seats. Republicans have 73.

GOP Sen. Mike Rounds will win reelection in South Dakota, CNN projects.

Vermont’s Republican Gov. Phil Scott will win reelection, CNN projects.

West Virginia’s Republican Gov. Jim Justice will win reelection, CNN projects.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker will win reelection in New Jersey, CNN projects.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst and Democrat Theresa Greenfield

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is in danger of possibly seeing her seat flipped tonight in a race that’s central to Democrats’ fight to retake the US Senate.

Here’s what you need to know about the race:

Challenger: Democrat Theresa Greenfield

Incumbent: Republican Sen. Joni Ernst

Why this race is important

Both sides acknowledge this race is a coin toss. Trump carried the state by nearly 10 points in 2016. But now Ernst — the first woman elected to federal office in Iowa — is in the same boat as many GOP senators who need to convince voters why they deserve a second term, even if Trump doesn’t.

A recent spot from the National Republican Senatorial Committee makes a checks and balances argument for rejecting Democrat Theresa Greenfield, implying that Senate control would be the last defense against a President Biden and Democratic House.

Ernst burst onto the political scene with her infamous 2014 “make ‘em squeal” ad, but she may not have done herself any favors in a recent debate, where she couldn’t state the price of soybeans. It’s not clear the moment has resonated beyond the headlines, but Republicans are worried that Greenfield — who talks about being a “farm kid” — has had a fundraising advantage.

Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew and Democrat Amy Kennedy

Democrat Amy Kennedy is challenging Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, hoping to pick up New Jersey’s House seat.

Who are the candidates

Challenger: Democrat Amy Kennedy

Incumbent: Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew

Why this race is interesting

Van Drew famously switched parties from Democrat to GOP, during Trump’s impeachment. Van Drew, who voted against both articles of impeachment against Trump, was struggling in New Jersey politics as a Democrat. He already was facing a tough reelection in his New Jersey district; becoming a Republican would allow him to avoid a Democratic primary.

During that switch, Van Drew pledged his “undying support” to President Trump. Kennedy has said that was the moment she decided to run.

How people feel about the President will play a big role in this race. The President won this district in 2016 by 5 points; in January, when Trump traveled there for a victory-lap rally with Van Drew, thousands of supporters lined up in the frigid cold. 

Now, during the pandemic that has costs thousands of people their jobs, Trump’s endorsement might not be enough, if it’s a net positive at all — and as the President lags in the polls with Election Day nearing, Van Drew, a former mayor and state lawmaker, is trying to remind voters of his own brand, cultivated over two decades in public service, of an independent-minded politician unconcerned with party labels.

Additionally, some Democratic voters and party leaders who supported Van Drew two years ago feel betrayed after he switched parties just one year after they sent him to Washington.

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton will win reelection in Arkansas, CNN projects.

New Hampshire’s Republican Gov. Chris Sununu will win reelection, CNN projects.

GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito will win reelection in West Virginia, CNN projects.

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen will win reelection in New Hampshire, CNN projects.

Republican Ronny Jackson will win the House race in Texas, CNN projects.

Jackson was President Trump’s former chief physician and one-time nominee for Veterans Affairs secretary.

It’s just past 8:30 p.m. ET and a handful or races have already been projected.

CNN projects Joe Biden will win Delaware, DC, Maryland, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Donald Trump will win Kentucky and Oklahoma, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Based on these projections, this is where the race to 270 currently stands.

Trump has 42 electoral college votes. Biden has 30 electoral college votes.

Reminder: Each candidate needs 270 electoral college votes to win the presidency.

Follow here for live updates.

Democrat Nikema Williams will win a House seat in Georgia, CNN projects. This is the late John Lewis’ seat.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will win reelection in Kentucky, CNN projects, defeating Democratic challenger Amy McGrath.

A handful of House and Senate races have been called and this is how the balance of power in Congress is currently shaping up.

Democrats have 32 seats in the Senate so far. Republicans have 31. Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority.

In the House, Democrats have 21 seats. Republicans have 31.

Republican Bill Hagerty will win the Senate race in Tennessee, CNN projects.

Marjorie Taylor Greene will win a House seat in Georgia, CNN projects.

Greene, who has promoted QAnon theories, ran unopposed for the vacant and solid Republican seat. Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal dropped out of the race after winning the party’s primary.

After her primary win, Greene walked back her support and said the QAnon candidate label “doesn’t represent me.”

The seat for Georgia’s 14th congressional district is currently held by Republican Rep. Tom Graves, who has served in the House since 2010 and announced last year that he would not seek reelection in 2020.

Delaware’s Democratic Gov. John Carney will win reelection, CNN projects.

GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe will win reelection in Oklahoma, CNN projects.

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons will win his Senate race, CNN projects.

Democratic Sen. Ed Markey will win his Senate race, CNN projects.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat Sara Gideon

Republican Sen. Susan Collins is facing a competitive race against Democrat Sara Gideon in Maine tonight.

Here’s what we know about the race:

Challenger: State House Speaker Sara Gideon

Incumbent: Republican Sen. Susan Collins

Why this race is important

The Maine Senate race is one of the most closely-watched and competitive of 2020 with just days until Election Day where the control of Congress and the White House are on the line.

Senate Democrats have made Maine one of their top targets where Collins, a longtime GOP incumbent, is facing a tough reelection fight in a state that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.

Contentious debate

Collins said during a debate on Oct. 28 that she does not think that systemic racism is a problem in the state.

“I do not believe systemic racism is a problem in the state of Maine,” Collins said at the debate hosted by CNN affiliate WMTW where she faced off against Democratic challenger and state House Speaker Sara Gideon.

The comments from the GOP senator came after the moderator asked, “Is the phrase ‘Black lives matter’ controversial and is there a systemic racism problem here in Maine?,” noting that the overwhelming majority of state residents identify as white. Although 94% of Mainers identify as White, the state is also home to a sizable refugee community, including Somali and Sudanese Americans.

The initial arrival of Somali immigrants was met with mixed reactions, including some high-profile instances of overt pushback starting in the early 2000’s when the mayor of Lewiston argued that the city had been overwhelmed by the influx.

In responding to the question, Collins also said, “I don’t think the phrase Black lives matter should be controversial,” and added, “it’s clear that in some parts of our country there is systemic racism or problems in police departments.”

Gideon, the Democratic challenger, responded to the same question by saying, “Black lives do matter and the reason we have to say it is because there is a legacy of bigotry in this country that results in systemic racism,” and noting the existence of racial disparities in Maine.

“It doesn’t matter how white our state is — it still exists. When we look at the incidences, for example, of the number of people of color who here in the state of Maine had a positive Covid infection rate and how outsized that was compared to the rest of the population. We see it in terms of access to education for people of color, access to health care, rates of poverty, rates of incarceration, and we do have to do something about it,” Gideon said.

Democrat Mark Kelly and Republican Sen. Martha McSally

Incumbent Sen. Martha McSally is fighting to keep her Arizona seat against Democratic challenger Mark Kelly tonight.

Here’s what we know about the race:

Challenger: Mark Kelly

Incumbent: Republican Sen. Martha McSally

Why this race is important

The Arizona race is one of the most competitive in the country and crucial to the future control of the chamber. Democrats almost certainly need to defeat McSally to take back the Senate.

Another thing that sets this contest apart is that the winner in Arizona might be eligible to take office sooner than other newly elected senators. This is because McSally was appointed to fill out the term of the late Sen. John McCain after Sen. Jon Kyl, who was previously appointed to fill the seat, resigned in December 2018.

The Arizona Republic reported that if Kelly wins on Nov. 3, he could be sworn in as soon as Nov. 30, meaning the balance of power in the Senate would shift from the current 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, to 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats.

Kelly has led most polls this year, and out-raised McSally every financial quarter of the race.

A changing voter landscape

The Senate seat was previously held by two Republicans, but the state has dramatically changed to the Democrats’ benefit, particularly in Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix and more than 60% of Arizona’s residents.

From 2010 to 2018, the county added over 593,000 people, turning increasingly blue.

Maricopa County Democratic Party chairman Steven Slugocki said the electorate is “very diverse” and “rapidly growing,” with communities of color, younger people and people from outside the state pouring in.

In 2016, Donald Trump won Arizona, including Phoenix’s Maricopa County, but only by taking 49% of the vote.

Some Republicans are worried that McSally will lose the seat because she isn’t conservative enough.

WATCH: Democrats think they can flip John McCain’s Senate seat

Video Ad Feedback

2582fcac-c055-4ee2-a485-11848669cdec.mp4

01:17 - Source: cnn

Democrat Amy McGrath and Rebublican Sen. Mitch McConnell

Democrat Amy McGrath is challenging longtime Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell this Election, hoping to flip a key Senate seat.

Here’s what we know:

Challenger: Amy McGrath

Incumbent: Sen. Mitch McConnell

Why this race matters

McGrath’s campaign has been about defeating McConnell, arguing that he has been in the Senate too long, but in the polls, McConnell is still the likely favorite.

On the campaign trail, McGrath has zeroed-in to portray McConnell as a Washington insider who cares more about Wall Street and special interests than his own constituents. The McConnell campaign views McGrath as an “extreme liberal” whose campaign will waste millions of Democrats’ dollars.

The state hasn’t sent a Democrat to the Senate since the reelection of Wendell Ford in 1992. Kentucky gave President Donald Trump a 30-point victory in 2016. 

Key things to know

McGrath was endorsed by Democrats because she is a good fundraiser – that’s critical to rival McConnell who has raised tens of millions of dollars for the Republican party and its related super PACs. He will get as much money from these groups as he needs to win.

CNN’s Phil Mattingly on why to watch the Kentucky Senate race:

Video Ad Feedback

b25fa4b9-8f42-4a56-88b6-c4b7122c0be4.mp4

01:09 - Source: cnn

Indiana’s Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb will win reelection, CNN projects.

Republican Hal Rogers of Kentucky will win the first House race of the night, CNN projects.

After six years of Republican rule, the Senate could very well flip. By now, the reasons are clear.

A majority of the country never approved of President Trump, or his handling of his top crisis, the coronavirus pandemic, which shuttered businesses and claimed the lives of over 230,000 people in America.

Democratic candidates bet that protecting and expanding upon the Affordable Care Act, which ended their party’s control of the Senate in 2014, would be their path back to power. Republicans hope that an economic rebound and the late confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett will remind voters why they put the GOP in charge, and save their Senate majority.

Here are key things to watch tonight:

Read more here.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democrat Jaime Harrison

Democrat Jaime Harrison is facing off with three-term GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham in North Carolina tonight.

Here’s what we know about the race:

Who are the candidates

Challenger: Democrat Jaime Harrison

Incumbent: Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham

Why this race matters

Democrats haven’t had success in South Carolina ever since Fritz Hollings retired 15 years ago after nearly four decades in the Senate. In the six Senate elections since 2004, the Democratic candidate never got more than 45% of the vote. But Harrison may change that, boosted by an unprecedented level of financial support.

While President Donald Trump is more popular in South Carolina than he is in other states where vulnerable Republican senators are running, polls have shown a dip in the President’s standing here. Whether that’s enough to end Graham’s 26-year career in Congress is an open question.

CNN’s Phil Mattingly explains:

Video Ad Feedback

299ed791-9992-47ac-a22c-04231081ff97.mp4

01:29 - Source: cnn

With Democrats poised to expand their House majority this year, the two biggest things to watch on Election Night will be how many seats they flip and where they are.

The gains Democrats make will say a lot about how much partisanship is changing along geographic and educational divides — and how much the national environment, specifically President Trump, may have accelerated those changes.

Democrats made historic gains in the 2018 midterms, flipping 40 seats with the help of massive fundraising and enthusiasm for sending a message to the White House and GOP-controlled Congress. At the time, that looked like a high-water mark. The current balance of power in the House is 232 Democrats to 197 Republicans with one Libertarian and five vacancies.

The trends that fueled those Democratic pickups two years ago have only intensified since then. With Trump on the ballot this year, his unpopularity among well-educated and affluent voters is expected to further sink down-ballot Republicans, even in places that voted for him four years ago.

And it’s no longer just wealthy metropolitan areas that are in play for Democrats. The party has made inroads in some unexpected places, while also holding off strong challengers or remaining competitive in rural districts that voted for the President by double digits four years ago and may back him again this year.

Republicans need a net gain of 17 seats to flip the chamber — a tall order in any year. But that task became more of a challenge as the pandemic, and Trump’s handling of it, dominated the election. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, a CNN contributor, now projects Democrats will win a net gain of between 14 and 20 seats this year.

Democrats are still facing real fights to hold some of their seats — especially in places like New York’s Staten Island, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Minnesota, primarily places with a high concentration of White, working class voters. But the party pivoted to being increasingly on offense over the course of the cycle.

Read about some of the key races here

CNN’s Phil Mattingly reports:

Video Ad Feedback

9e06abc6-c2a0-49cf-993f-e446e3d01a2c.mp4

01:48 - Source: cnn

Voters wait on line to cast their votes in Atlanta on November 3.

Several Senate seats are at play this election, and Democrats are aiming to flip seats to turn the chamber blue.

Here’s a look at when key polls close tonight:

The real question on Election Day is whether Republicans can hang onto their slim majority in the Senate.

Democrats need to pick up a net of three seats if Biden wins and four if Trump wins (the vice president breaks ties in the Senate) to seize power.

They’re pretty much guaranteed to lose a Senate seat in Alabama, so Democrats are looking for 4-5 seats elsewhere. There are plenty of opportunities.

One Republican-held seat — Colorado — is rated by CNN as “lean Democratic.”

Three Republican-held seats — Arizona, Maine and North Carolina — are rated by CNN as “tilt Democratic.”

Three Republican-held seats — Georgia, Iowa and Montana — are rated by CNN as “tossup.”

If there’s a massive Democratic wave, look to the three Republican-held seats — Kansas, South Carolina and Georgia’s second seat — rated by CNN as “tilt Republican.”

Meanwhile, Democrats are expected to build on the House majority they won in 2018.

Check out the full ratings here.

CNN’s Phil Mattingly explains:

Video Ad Feedback

69daf566-a228-42a9-b894-8b204a5e3c56.mp4

01:43 - Source: cnn

A woman holds her ballot at a polling place in Ridgeland, Mississippi on November 3.

Voters across the country today will decide more than who will sit in White House. States will weigh several different issues this election, such as whether to legalize marijuana, limit access to abortion, reform voting and more.

Here are some of the top ballot measures to watch this Election Day:

Read more about state and local ballot measures here