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Republican party retains majority in Senate — media forecasts

The exact make-up of the Senate is yet unknown as the vote count still continues in some states

WASHINGTON, November 7. /TASS/. According to latest estimates by CNN, NBC and Fox News, the Republican Party retained its majority in the US Senate after Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who was initially projected to win in Texas, lost the race to his opponent Ted Cruz.

Republican candidates are projected to win Senate elections in seven swinging states (Indiana, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, Arizona, Texas and North Dakota), while their Democratic opponents dominate the vote in four (New Jersey, Montana, Minnesota and Mississippi), according to US media estimates, based on exit polls and early vote count.

No official vote results are available so far. The exact make-up of the Senate is yet unknown as the vote count still continues in some states.

Meanwhile, according to a CNN report, Democrat Jon Tester is winning elections to the US Senate in Montana with 53%, while his main rival, Matt Rosendale, got 44.2%.

A survey by Washington Post, New York Times, Politico and CNN gives the victory in another swing state, Minnesota, to Tina Smith of the Democratic Party with 58.7%. Her opponent Karin Housley got 38.6%.

Martha McSally of the Republican party is winning the election in Arizona with 49.3%, her Democratic opponent Kyrsten Cinema got 48.6%, according to a survey by Washington Post, New York Times and CNN.

With 97% of votes counted in Florida, Democratic incumbent senator Bill Nelson may not defend his seat against a challenge by sitting governor Rick Scott of the Republican party, CNN said. According to latest information, 50.4% of ballots were cast in favor of Scott, while Nelson received 49.6%.

Washington Post, New York Times and CNN forecast the victory of another Republican candidate, Mike Braun, in a crucial race for a Senate seat in Indiana. According to Washington Post, Braun garnered 53.6%, while his rival Joe Donnelly received 42.3%.

According to CNN estimates, Republican candidate Josh Hawley received 61.4% of the vote in Missouri, while his election rival Claire McCaskill - 35.9%.

In Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn of the Republican Party is expected to win the polls, with 63.4% of votes, her main election rival Phil Bredesen of the Democratic Party is forecasted to receive 35.4%.

Forecasts by CNN, New York Times, Washington Post and Politico, based on exit polls and early vote count, project Democrat Bob Menendens to defeat his opponent Bob Hugin in New Jersey with 56.7% against 40.1%.

The same survey says Mike Espy is winning the elections in Mississipi with 54.1%, while his main election rival Cindy Hyde-Smith gets 18.5%.

US political experts describe those states as "swing states," or states with unpredictable results, during the upcoming midterm elections. In all, experts have identified 13 swing states - Arizona, West Virginia, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Tennessee, Florida and Texas.