Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, has won re-election to the Senate, as confirmed by the Associated Press on Friday night. She successfully defended her seat against a challenge from Republican veteran Sam Brown, who was endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump. This marks Rosen’s first re-election after initially being elected to the Senate in 2018.
Leading up to the election, the race between Rosen and Brown was closely watched, with Fox News Power Rankings in September naming it as one of two “toss-ups” along with Ohio. The Cook Political Report also initially classified the race as a “toss up” but later shifted it to “Lean Democrat.” This change was influenced by polling data that showed Rosen with a significant lead over Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Nevada played a crucial role as a swing state in various down-ballot elections, including the presidential and Senate races. While the Nevada Senate race was not seen as essential for Republicans to secure a majority in the Senate, it was seen as an opportunity to expand their likely majority in the new Congress. Additionally, there were several closely contested House races in the state that could determine the party leading the lower chamber.
Jacky Rosen secured the Democratic nomination for Senate earlier in the year after defeating other contenders Troy Walker and Mike Schaefer. On the Republican side, Sam Brown faced a tough primary battle against former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Jeffrey Gunter. Gunter ran attack ads portraying Brown as a puppet of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Despite facing these challenges, Brown received a last-minute endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump, which helped him win the primary by a significant margin.
However, despite Trump’s support, Brown was unable to close the polling gap with Rosen in the same way that other Republican candidates did in races across the country. This victory for Rosen solidifies her position in the Senate representing Nevada.
Overall, the re-election of Sen. Jacky Rosen highlights the competitive nature of Nevada’s political landscape and the significance of the state in national elections. As Rosen continues to serve in the Senate, her priorities and agenda will impact not only the people of Nevada but also the broader political landscape in the United States.
