Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) speaks to the crowd at the main stage at the Broadacres Marketplace in North Las Vegas on Oct. 23. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) won her bid for re-election, defeating former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, and handing Democrats control of the Senate, the Associated Press reported.
Why it matters: Cortez Masto’s crucial victory comes after Arizona was called for incumbent Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly and Democrat John Fetterman flipped a key Senate seat in Pennsylvania.
Context: The nation waited days for final results in Nevada, which was one of a few key states left that would determine Senate control. Election results were delayed in the state because of a shortage of election workers in Clark County and large volumes of mail and drop-off ballots in Washoe County.
Yes, but: The Trump-backed Laxalt, who took an active role in attempting to overturn 2020 election results in Nevada, had declined to say whether he would accept the results of the Nov. 8 election, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
Catch up quick: Cortez Masto held on to a narrow lead in recent months, but polling showed Laxalt narrowing the gap in the week before Election Day.
Worth noting: Cortez Masto, the first-ever Latina elected to the Senate, also condemned Laxalt’s push to challenge 2020 election results, which confirmed that President Biden won the state.
Jacob Knutson contributed to this report.