2 Senate seats still too close to call
WASHINGTON — Senate races in Florida and Arizona were too close to call Wednesday, raising the possibility of President Trump gaining a more comfortable Senate majority.
In Florida, the showdown between Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott was still too close to call.
Nelson, who was first elected to the Senate in 2000, declined to concede the election and his campaign said it was preparing for a recount.
On Wednesday afternoon, Scott had a lead of less than one half of 1 percent. Election officials said early votes were still being tabulated in some counties.
Under state law in Florida, a recount is mandatory if the winning candidate’s margin is less than 0.5 percentage points.
In Arizona, Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Kysten Sinema were also locked in a tight race. McSally had a slight edge on Wednesday afternoon, leading by a margin of less than 1 percent. Election officials planned to update the count later Wednesday and in the coming days. Roughly 25 percent of votes in Arizona are counted after Election Day.
Whoever emerges will become the first woman elected to the Senate from Arizona. McSally and Sinema are battling over the seat vacated by Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican critic of Trump who decided not to run for reelection.
In Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester prevailed in a tight reelection race, securing a third term in a state President Trump won by 21 points in 2016.
With 91 percent of precincts reporting, Tester led Republican state Auditor Matt Rosendale 49 percent to 48 percent when The Associated Press called the race Wednesday afternoon.
First elected in 2006, Tester has never won more than 50 percent of the vote in his previous Senate races. But his personal brand once again helped him overcome partisan leanings in Big Sky Country.
In Nevada, Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen won the Nevada Senate race Tuesday, defeating GOP Sen. Dean Heller in one of the most hotly contested races of the cycle. Rosen’s victory was a rare piece of good news for Democrats on a night when Republicans decisively retained control of the chamber.
With 78 percent of precincts reporting, Rosen led Heller 51 percent to 45 percent when The Associated Press called the race.
Heller, who served in the House before he was appointed to the Senate in 2011, aligned himself with Trump and argued that a GOP-controlled Senate was necessary to continue the economic progress under the Trump administration.