Key midterm races left outstanding
Ryan King
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As the dust begins to settle from the midterm election mayhem, dozens of races remain unresolved, leaving lingering questions about how the balance of power will shake out in Washington, D.C.
Democrats managed to snuff out a prophesied red wave, but Republicans remain within striking distance of capturing the House, while the fate of the Senate is up in the air. Dozens of House races, three Senate races, and four governor’s races are outstanding, with most of the stragglers hailing from Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon.
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Here is a breakdown of the top unfinished midterm election races:
Alaska House at-large district
A traditionally Republican-held seat that was vacated by the death of Rep. Don Young earlier this year, Alaska’s at-large district was captured by Democrat Mary Peltola in an upset victory over former Gov. Sarah Palin earlier this year. Both Peltola and Palin clashed in a rematch for the midterm cycle, but the outcome remains unclear.
Under Alaska’s election system, the top four contenders face off in a ranked choice voting contest. With just shy of three-quarters of the vote in, Peltola is in the lead with about 47.2% of the vote. Palin is trailing at 26.6%. Republican Nick Begich has 24.2%.
Arizona Governor
In one of the hottest midterm battles of the country, Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Katie Hobbs slugged it out for Grand Canyon State governor. About three-quarters of the vote has been tallied, and Lake is trailing Hobbs 49.7% to 50.3%. The election is another test of the traditionally red-leaning state’s apparent shift to purple.
Arizona Senate
Seemingly on the precipice of being called, incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) currently touts a 51.4% to 46.4% lead over populist Republican challenger Blake Masters. But about a quarter of the vote has not been counted, resulting in reluctance at election desks to call the race that could determine the balance of power in the upper chamber.
Arizona’s 1st Congressional District
Republicans had been widely expected to pick up toss-up seats this cycle without ceding GOP-friendly terrain, but they are at risk of doing so in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. Democrat Jevin Hodge has a razor-thin lead over Republican foe David Schweikert with 50.8% to 49.2%, with about a quarter of the votes outstanding.
California’s 47th Congressional District
Late in the midterm game, Republicans suddenly became bullish about picking off liberal star Rep. Katie Porter. With just shy of two-thirds of the votes counted, Porter has a slim lead over Republican rival Scott Baugh, with 50.5% to 49.5%.
Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District
Stupefying some political observers, conservative firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert is in serious danger of losing her reelection bid to Democrat Adam Frisch in what could be a major upset in a GOP-friendly district. She is effectively dead even with Frisch, trailing by a scant 64 votes with 95% of the vote in.
Georgia Senate
It’s deja vu in the Peach State. Drawing parallels with the 2020 election, the fate of the Senate could rest on the runoff race in Georgia. Neither Republican Herschel Walker nor incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock garnered enough votes to claim a majority outright. Warnock ran ahead of Walker in the race and won the prior runoff.
Nevada House trio
Democrats in Nevada seemingly gambled on an ambitious redistricting strategy that effectively rendered three of the state’s Democratic-held congressional districts competitive. Although Republican Mark Amodei won in the GOP-friendly 2nd Congressional District, the bet appears to have paid off with Democrats holding the narrow edge in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th congressional districts. Between 86% and 89% of the votes in those races have been counted.
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Nevada Senate
After suffering a loss in Pennsylvania, Republican hopes of reclaiming the Senate turned to the Silver State race. Republican Adam Laxalt is leading incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto 49.4% to 47.6%, with about 84% of the votes in.
Oregon Governor
Republicans had been keen about breaking the blue dam in the Beaver State this cycle and dedicated considerable firepower to boosting Republican Christine Drazan in her quest to succeed an unpopular outgoing governor. A three-way race that involved Democrat Tina Kotek and independent Betsy Johnson seemingly left an opening.
However, with 99% of the vote in, Kotek is leading Drazan 46.7% to 43.9%.