In two local elections in the US state of Kentucky in which candidates received the same number of votes, the winner was announced by the flip of a coin. Under Kentucky law, that is a legal method, the BBC reports. The local elections were held during the American ‘midterms’.
In Breckinridge County, a small district southwest of the city of Louisville, David Albright and Ronnie Robinson were competing for government office. The candidates were tied, with 572 votes each. A coin tossed Albright as the winner.
In the nearby town of Muldraugh, Deborah Noel and Sharon Hodge tied for a council seat. There too, the result was decided in this way and Noel won. All candidates were happy that a coin toss determined their political career. In both cases, the candidate won by choosing to lead.
Count still not completed
Three days after the so-called midterms, votes are still being counted and the final results for both the Senate and the House of Representatives are still pending. Republicans are expected to win a majority in the House. It is not yet clear who will take control of the Senate.
The Senate division depends on the states of Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia. In the first two states, votes are still being counted, in Georgia a new round is needed because none of the candidates received more than half of the votes. Currently, the Democrats have 48 seats and the Republicans 49.
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The Republicans appear to be taking power in the US state of Nevada. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly has been re-elected in Arizona.
The Republicans appear to be taking power in the US state of Nevada. According to several media outlets, including NBC, CNN and Fox News, Joe Lombardo defeated incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak in the midterm elections. Lombardo was supported by former President Donald Trump during the election campaign.
In Arizona, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly has been re-elected, CNN and NBC News reported Friday night (local time). He not only defeated Republican Blake Masters, but the Democrats are also one step closer to retaining the majority in the Senate.
Kelly won against Masters despite high inflation and declining appreciation in Arizona for President Joe Biden’s policies. Strong fundraising efforts and distancing himself from Biden on issues such as immigration allowed him to stay ahead of his Republican challenger.
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Although Republicans have a good chance of regaining the majority in the House of Representatives, the expected ‘red wave’ did not materialize.
Two years ago, Kelly won his Senate seat with 51 percent of the vote. Kelly is a Navy pilot and former astronaut. He is married to former US Representative Gabby Giffords, who survived a mass shooting in Tucson in 2011.
House of Representatives
To gain control of the 435-seat House of Representatives, 218 seats are needed. According to CNN, Republicans can currently count on 211 seats, the Democrats are in the standings at 202.
Before the midterms, the Democrats still had the majority in both chambers. Before the midterm elections, the Republican party was predicted to take a big win. Although Republicans have a good chance of at least regaining the majority in the House of Representatives, the expected ‘red wave’ did not materialize.
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