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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Joe Manchin Holds Onto Senate Seat in West Virginia

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin won reelection on Tuesday night, defeating West Virginia's Republican attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, two years after President Trump won the state by more than 42 percentage points.

(CN) — Democratic Senator Joe Manchin won reelection on Tuesday night, defeating West Virginia's Republican attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, two years after President Trump won the state by more than 42 percentage points.

With 61 percent of precincts reporting, Manchin has garnered 50.4 percent of the vote to Morrissey's 45.3 percent.

Libertarian Rusty Hollen received 4.3 percent.

As it stands now, Republicans are clinging to delicate majorities in both the House and Senate Tuesday night as many of the night's most high-profile contests remain too close to call.

Democrats seized early victories in contested House races in Florida and in Virginia, but lost a high-profile contest in Kentucky.

In Virginia, State Rep. Jennifer Wexton defeated two-term GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock, securing victory with the support of college-educated women in the suburbs.

In South Florida, former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala defeated Republican Maria Elvira Salazar.

But the Democrats came up short in Kentucky, where former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath failed to defeat vulnerable Republican Rep. Andy Barr.

At the same time, Democrats re-elected embattled New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, who stood trial for federal corruption charges, but saw those charges dropped after his trial ended in an hung jury.

Some of the most tantalizing races in the 9 o'clock hour are in the states of Georgia and Florida.

In Georgia, Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp continues to hold a sizable lead over Democrat Stacy Abrams is a race for governor that seemed to inspire a headline a day over the past several weeks.

With 27 percent of precincts reporting, Kemp leads 60.5 percent to Abrams' 38.8 percent, with Libertarian Ted Metz garnering the support of 0.7 percent of the electorate.

However, due to problems at some polling places, results from Democrat-heavy precincts in Atlanta and other metro areas have yet to be counted.

In Florida, meanwhile, Republican Ron DeSantis continues to lead Democrat Andrew Gillum, 49.9 percent to 48.9 percent, with 93 percent of precincts reporting.

Political analysts say if Gillum has any hope to turn things around, it lies in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, Democrat-leaning with large populations whose votes may take longer to count than some of their rural, less populated neighbors.

The Republicans are also leading in the Florida Senate race pitting outgoing Governor Rick Scott against Democrat Bill Nelson.

With  93 percent of precincts reporting,  Scott leads Nelson, 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent.

Categories / Government, National, Politics

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