Midterm election results live updates: Where the outstanding Senate races stand
The 2022 midterm elections are shaping up to be some of the most consequential in the nation's history, with control of Congress at stake.
All 435 seats in the House and 35 of 100 seats in the Senate are on the ballot, as well as several influential gubernatorial elections in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Democrats are defending their narrow majorities in both chambers. Republican control of either the House or Senate 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.
Latest Developments
Nov 9, 5:23 PM
Biden addresses reelection plans
President Joe Biden said he intends to run for reelection, though he said he doesn't plan to make a formal decision with first lady Jill Biden until early next year.
"Our intention is to run again," Biden told reporters Wednesday during remarks on the midterms. "That's been our intention, regardless of what the outcome of this election was."
Biden said he and his family are going to have "discussions" about it over the next few weeks.
"My intention is that I will run again, but I'm a great respecter of fate, and this is ultimately a family decision," he said.
"I don't feel in any hurry one way or another to make that judgment. Today, tomorrow, whenever, no matter what my predecessor does," he added, not referring to former President Donald Trump by name.
Sources told ABC News that Trump, who has been teasing a "big announcement," could potentially announce a 2024 presidential run as early as the week of Nov. 14.
Nov 9, 4:31 PM
Biden: 'It was a good day for democracy'
Even as some key races are still outstanding, President Joe Biden addressed Democrats' stronger-than-expected midterms results.
"It was a good day, I think, for democracy. And I think it was a good day for America," Biden told reporters during an address from the White House on Wednesday.
Biden said that "any seat lost is painful" while acknowledging that some Democrats didn't win their elections. But overall he said the party "had a strong night."
"We lost fewer seats in the House of Representatives than any Democratic president's first midterm election in the last 40 years," he said.
Read more about Biden's address here.
NEW: Pres. Biden on midterm election: "It was a good day, I think, for democracy."
"Our democracy has been tested in recent years, but with their votes the American people have spoken and proven once again that democracy is who we are." https://t.co/nwvCcJYc2B #Election2022 pic.twitter.com/wtZXTv2bso— ABC News (@ABC) November 9, 2022
Nov 9, 3:39 PM
Georgia Senate race heading to a runoff
In the Georgia Senate race, ABC News reports no candidate will receive more than 50% of the vote.
There will be a runoff election between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker on Dec. 6.
Warnock and Walker were tied Wednesday morning at 49% with 96% of the expected vote reported.
The Georgia Senate race is one of the most competitive in the country and will likely determine which party will control the Senate. Read more about the race here.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said voters can request absentee ballots now through Nov. 28. Early voting must begin no later than Nov. 28.
"I'll ask the voters to come out and vote one last time,” he said. "We hope that the voters don't have fatigue because this is where you get to exercise your priceless franchise: the right to vote.”
Nov 9, 3:23 PM
Where the outstanding Senate races stand
Alaska: With 71% of the expected vote reporting, Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka leads the Senate race with 44% of the vote, followed by Republican incumbent Lisa Murkowski with 43%. A third woman, Democrat Patricia Chesbro, has 10% of the vote.
Arizona: With 69% of the expected vote reporting, Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly leads the Senate race with 51% of the vote. Republican challenger Blake Masters has 46%.
Nevada: With 80% of the expected vote reporting, Republican Adam Laxalt leads the Senate race with 50% of the vote, followed by incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto with 47%.
Georgia: With 99% of the expected vote reporting, incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and challenger Republican Herschel Walker are tied at 49% of the vote. There will be a runoff election on Dec. 6.
-ABC News’ Isabella Murray
Nov 9, 4:29 PM
McCarthy formally launches bid for House speaker despite incomplete results
Despite the number of House races that remain outstanding, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has formally launched a bid for House speaker in a letter to his colleagues, pledging to be "a listener every bit as much as a Speaker." He says Republicans will "achieve our goal of taking back the House."
McCarthy promised to "reopen the Capitol" and end proxy voting in addition to remote work for Congress.
He said Republicans will "devote the resources necessary for this House to go toe-to-toe with the executive branch, especially as it pertains to oversight and holding the Biden administration accountable for its mismanagement of our country."
-ABC News' Lauren Peller
Nov 9, 4:34 PM
Pelosi to Dems: House results so far 'a remarkable achievement'
On a caucus call with House Democrats after a surprising showing on election night, Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised her party's efforts to defend their majority.
"It is a remarkable achievement what all of us did working together," Pelosi said, according to a source on the call.
"We said we would make our own environment and we did," Pelosi added.
She praised Democratic Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney -- who narrowly lost his reelection race in New York -- after Republicans spent millions of dollars to unseat him. Republicans won a "pyrrhic victory" against Maloney, she told Democrats, and used up resources "which could have been better spent in some other races."
-ABC News’ Ben Siegel
Nov 9, 3:25 PM
Van Orden, who was in DC on Jan. 6, projected to win House race
ABC News can project that Republican Derrick Van Orden will win Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, picking up a seat formerly held by Democrat Ronald Kind. With 89% of the expected vote reporting, Van Orden has 52.8% of the vote to Democrat Brad Pfaff's 47.1%.
Van Orden was present at former President Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6, 2021. Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, has said he was in the nation's capital that day for meetings.
Some Capitol Police officers are angry that Orden and others who were in Washington, D.C., that day have run for office. Four officers told ABC News they’re planning to retire early, adding to the already huge problem of worker retention on the force.
Nov 9, 12:55 PM
McConnell: ‘I don’t deal in feelings’
Asked Wednesday how he feels about the Republicans’ chances of taking back the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell replied, "I don’t deal in feelings.”
“They’ve got to count the votes and then we’ll figure out where we are,” he told reporters at the Capitol.
McConnell did not respond to ABC News’ questions if he's still supporting Georgia Republican Senatorial candidate Herschel Walker.
-ABC News’ Trish Turner
Nov 9, 12:40 PM
Biden to give remarks, hold press conference at 4 p.m.
President Joe Biden will give remarks and hold a press conference at 4 p.m.
In a brief preview of his speech shared on Twitter, Biden thanked election officials for upholding democracy.
"Democracy doesn't happen by accident. We have to defend, strengthen and renew it," Biden tweeted.
"I'll have more to say this afternoon, but thanks to the poll workers and officials that worked into the night to safeguard our sacred right to vote. And the millions who made their voices heard," he continued.
Democracy doesn’t happen by accident. We have to defend, strengthen, and renew it.
I'll have more to say this afternoon, but thanks to the poll workers and officials that worked into the night to safeguard our sacred right to vote. And the millions who made their voices heard.— President Biden (@POTUS) November 9, 2022
Nov 9, 2:14 PM
Republican incumbent projected to win Wisconsin Senate race
Republican incumbent Ron Johnson is projected to win the Wisconsin Senate race over Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
With 94% of the vote reporting, Johnson has 51% of the vote and Barnes has 49%.
In a concession speech Wednesday, Barnes said, "It's time for us to double down. To show up like we've never shown up before. To make sure that Ron Johnson -- every political leader -- knows to answer to every person in Wisconsin, not just the people that voted for them."
Johnson was first elected in 2010 and is serving his second term in Congress, sitting on committees including the Senate Foreign Relations committee. He campaigned on being tough on crime and has faced backlash over comments about COVID-19 vaccines and the Jan. 6. insurrection. Johnson was the subject of part of the Jan. 6 committee's findings earlier this year which revealed, according to text messages from a senior Johnson aide, that he apparently wanted to deliver fake electoral votes for Donald Trump from Wisconsin and Michigan to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021.
Barnes is the first Black lieutenant governor in Wisconsin and would have been the state's first Black senator had he won. He faced some opposition over his positions on crime and support from progressives.
Wisconsin went for Biden by a slim margin in 2020 after going for Trump in 2016.
-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim
