Democrats seize control of the Senate after winning Nevada
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.
Democrats maintained control of the US Senate on Saturday, fending off Republican efforts to retake the Senate and making it difficult for them to thwart US President Joe Biden's agenda.
The fate of the US House of Representatives remains uncertain, as the Republican Party struggles to gain a slim majority there.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's victory in Nevada gave Democrats the 50 seats they need to maintain control of the Senate.
Her victory reflects the surprising strength of Democrats across the United States in this election year.
Seeking re-election in an economically challenging state with some of the highest gas prices in the country, Catherine Cortez Masto was considered the most vulnerable senator.
Her victory further frustrated the Republicans, who were confident she could be defeated.
To this, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said Saturday night, "We've done so much and will do so much for the American people...the American people have rejected--totally rejected--the anti-democratic, authoritarian, vulgar and divisive trend."
US President Joe Biden expressed his great happiness after being informed of the Democrats' preservation of control of the Senate, following the victory of their candidate in the state of Nevada.
"I feel good and I am looking forward to the next two years," Biden told reporters in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, where he is currently attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
The US president confirmed that he was not surprised by the result, adding, "I think it is a reflection of the quality of our candidates."
With Masto's victory, Democrats will now control at least 50 seats with Vice President Kamla Harris able to break a tie in the 100-member Senate.
The Senate is currently divided equally between Democrats and Republicans.
The newly elected Senate will be sworn in on January 3.
If Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock wins the December 6 run-off election in Georgia against his Republican challenger, Herschel Walker, that would increase the Democrats' majority to 51 to 49 Republicans.
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