Washington, Dec. 1, (dpa/GNA) – The Democratic Party will gain a seat in the US Senate later this week, as Arizona on Monday certified the results of the recent election while also giving the state’s electoral votes to the Democratic nominee, president-elect Joe Biden.
The swing state of Wisconsin also certified president-elect Biden’s victory there after a recount by over 20,000 votes. Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, confirmed on Monday afternoon that he signed a certificate completing the process.
The certifications are the latest step in preventing President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the election or delay results as he continues to refuse to concede his loss and recognize Biden as the winner.
Biden won by just about 10,000 votes in Arizona, where more than 3.3 million ballots were cast.
Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, will be sworn in as the south-western state’s senator on Wednesday. He beat Martha McSally in that race this month.
The Republicans will have a 52-48 majority in the upper chamber until the new Congress begins in January, but the narrowing number could have implications for Trump’s effort to get certain positions approved by the Senate in his final weeks in office.
Control of the next Senate will be determined by two run-off races in Georgia.
If the Democrats can win both races, the Senate will be split, giving them a relative advantage as ties are broken by the vice president – and after Biden’s inauguration next year, Democrat Kamala Harris will hold this job. However, it will be a tough contest.
GNA