Democrat incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto defeated Republican Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt in a close election, giving the Democrats control of the upper chamber.
A number of outlets, including NBC and Fox called the race with 97% of the votes counted. Laxalt had 48.2% of the vote to Cortez Masto’s 48.7%. Laxalt, the former Nevada Attorney General, and Cortez Masto were neck and neck in the polls leading up to the election.
Masto, a former lawyer, was elected in 2017. She previously served as the Nevada attorney general from 2007 to 2015.
CBS News said Cortez Masto was the “most vulnerable Democratic senator fighting for reelection.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak join others onstage including U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (2nd from left) after speaking at a campaign event at The Sand Dollar Downtown on November 07, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Laxalt continued to criticize Cortez Masto over the number of law enforcement officials who supported her, saying she would be dangerous for the state while claiming the majority of law enforcement officials in the state would be supporting him. (RELATED: Tulsi Gabbard Endorses Republican Adam Laxalt For Senate)
He released ran ad titled “Dangerous,” which was first obtained by the Daily Caller, on statewide TV. The Nevada Fraternal Order of Police, the Las Vegas Peace Officers Association and nine other major Nevada law enforcement organizations endorsed Cortez Masto in 2016, but switched their support and endorsed Laxalt in this year’s elections. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: ‘Dangerous’ — Adam Laxalt To Release Ad With Law Enforcement Officials Slamming Sen. Cortez Masto)
According to The Hill, Cortez Masto outraised Laxalt in dollars by a 3-1 margin.