Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democratic former attorney general for Nevada, bested GOP congressman Joe Heck in the battle to replace Sen. Harry Reid, killing off Republican hopes to flip the seat from red to blue on an otherwise successful night for Republicans clinging to their majority.
The Associated Press called the race for Ms. Masto, who Mr. Reid chose to replace him after three decades in the Senate.
Republicans had eyed the seat as their only promising pickup of a tough 2016 cycle, after recruiting efforts in Colorado fell short.
During the campaign, Ms. Masto touted her efforts to crack down on meth manufacturers and child trafficking, while creating a special unit to protect seniors.
She also focused on immigration reform, hoping to build on Latino support in the state.
Donald Trump also loomed large. Mr. Heck withdrew his support for the GOP presidential nominee after the release of a 2005 tape in which the mogul made lewd remarks about women.
However, Mr. Heck later suggested to reporters that Nevadans didn’t have the right to know who planned to vote for, citing the privacy of the polling booth.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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