US Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat, emerged victorious in a closely contested race against Sam Brown in Nevada. The Associated Press projected her victory on Friday night, with a lead of 20,571 votes over Brown, which accounted for a 1.4% difference. This victory secured Rosen’s second term in the Senate, having previously served in the House of Representatives.
The race between Rosen and Brown was initially considered a toss-up by pollsters and was too close to call after the polls closed. Rosen maintained a lead of 12,699 votes over Brown, with 47.6% of the votes in her favor. Brown, who was endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, had 46.7% of the votes.
Late mail-in ballots from Clark County played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the race. Mail-in ballots were required to be postmarked by Election Day to be counted. Despite the victory projection by Decision Desk HQ, other news organizations were cautious due to the number of remaining ballots with questionable signatures.
In the broader context of Senate races, Republicans were hopeful that Brown would secure the Nevada Senate seat to bolster their majority in the Senate. Currently, Republicans hold 53 seats while Democrats have 46. The outcome of the Arizona Senate seat, contested between Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego, remains undecided with Gallego leading by 1.1% and a 32,779-vote difference.
The race in Nevada highlighted the political dynamics at play following the historic victory of former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris on Election Day. Despite the competitive nature of the race, Rosen’s win solidified her position in the Senate and underscored the ongoing political shifts in key battleground states.
