Midterm election results updates: Dems keep control of Senate with Nevada win
Catherine Cortez Masto’s victory in Nevada clinched the chamber for Democrats.
The 2022 midterm elections shaped up to be some of the most consequential in the nation's recent history, with control of Congress at stake.
All 435 seats in the House and 35 of 100 seats in the Senate were on the ballot, as well as several influential gubernatorial elections in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Democrats were defending their narrow majorities in both chambers and retained control of the Senate, though control of the House isn't yet clear. But a Republican flip of the lower chamber would be enough to curtail most of President Joe Biden's legislative agenda and would likely result in investigations against his administration and even his family.
Key updates:
Mastriano appears to admit defeat
Republican Doug Mastriano on Friday appeared to admit that he lost Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, days after ABC News called the race for Democrat Josh Shapiro, who leads by nearly 15 points with the final votes being tallied.
“We would have beat him without his lies and accusations,” Mastriano argued, in livestreamed remarks alongside his wife, Rebbie.
Since a Tuesday night speech in which he said he would “respect” what “the people of Pennsylvania say,” Mastriano had not spoken publicly about the race.
His silence has not bothered Shapiro, who told a Philadelphia radio station Friday that Mastriano had not called him to concede. “But who cares?” said the governor-elect. “The people pick the winner, not him.”
-ABC News’ Will McDuffie
Election denier Mark Finchem loses Arizona secretary of state race
ABC News can now project Democrat Adrian Fontes will win Arizona’s secretary of state race.
“I promise to always honor and defend the ideal of fair and honest elections with the voters of Arizona and I will help reignite the flame of unity in our Republic,” Fontes said in a statement.
Fontes was up against Republican Mark Finchem, a Donald Trump-backed candidate who fully denied the outcome of the 2020 election. As a state legislator, Finchem introduced resolutions trying to decertify results.
Election deniers were also defeated in secretary of state races in Michigan, where Republican Kristina Karamo lost to Democratic incumbent Jocelyn Benson; in Minnesota, where Democrat Steve Simon defeated Republican Kim Crockett; and in New Mexico, where Republican Audrey Trujillo lost to Democratic incumbent Maggie Toulouse Oliver.
In Pennsylvania, where the governor selects the secretary of state, Democrat Josh Shapiro defeated election-denying Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano.
Mark Kelly projected to win Arizona Senate race
Sen. Mark Kelly is projected to win reelection, ABC News reports.
Kelly, a Democrat, has secured a full six-year term to the Senate after pitching himself as an independent-minded candidate with bipartisan success.
He cast his opponent, Republican Blake Masters, backed by former President Donald Trump, as too extreme for Arizona.
Sisolak concedes as Lombardo projected to win Nevada governor's race
Democratic Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak conceded in his bid for reelection Friday against Republican challenger Joe Lombardo.
"While votes are still coming in -- and we need every ballot tallied and every voice heard -- it appears we will fall a percentage point or so short of winning," Sisolak said in a statement. "Obviously that is not the outcome I want, but I believe in our election system, in democracy and honoring the will of Nevada voters."
Sisolak's concession came moments before ABC News projected that Lombardo, a Trump-backed former Clark County sheriff, will win the close race.
Where the outstanding House races stand
As of early Friday morning, Republicans have won 211 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives while Democrats have won 204.
So far, Republicans have flipped a total of 16 House seats while Democrats have flipped five.
Twenty House races remain outstanding and Republicans only need to win seven of them to gain control of Congress' lower chamber.
Both parties are currently leading in 10 of the outstanding House races.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie