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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN Election Night in America. Aired 9-10p ET
Aired November 06, 2018 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And New Jersey right here, we'll know in the next half hour or so are Democrat getting closer to the magic number? We'll know soon.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. We have got some projections right now.
All right, CNN projects that Bob Casey, the incumbent Democratic Senator in Pennsylvania will be reelected for another six years. Senator Lee in Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar reelected for another six years, Amy Klobuchar wins in Minnesota. In New York State, Kirsten Gillibrand, she got reelected, she is the incumbent Democrats. Senator Lee in New Mexico, Martin Heinrich, he will be reelected in New Mexico for another six years. Too early to call in some states right now.
In Texas still too early to call between Beto O'Rourke and Ted Cruz. In Arizona, too early to call between Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally. Similarly in North Dakota, Heidi Heitkamp the incumbent Democrat facing Kevin Cramer, too early to call in North Dakota. No projections right now and we put it up on the screen for you. No projections as we mentioned in Arizona, Michigan, the special of Minnesota Senate Election, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Let's look at the balance of power, where things stand in the Senate right now. Take a look, 35 Democrats will be in the Senate, 42 Republicans. 23 Senate seats remain outstanding right now. Democrats must pick up two Republican seats and not lose any of their own in order to get the majority of 51 they need. Dana, you're eyeing contests very closely right now because they are tight.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Extremely tight. A lot of very exciting frankly races that we're looking at across the battle ground states in the U.S. Senate starting, of course, with Texas. We keep watching this, and it is getting tighter, but Beto O'Rourke, the Democrat, is still ahead by a little less than 4,000 votes right now.
Florida, it is so tight. The Republican challenger Rick Scott is still ahead beating right now the Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson very, very close, less than 60,000 votes between them.
Indiana. This could be a heart break for the Democrats because the Republican challenger Mike Braun is ahead and has been all night long, about two-thirds of the vote in. Joe Donnelly is down significantly there.
West Virginia, a very different story. Same in that they're both states where they're Trump country. Joe Manchin, the Democrat has been ahead all night there in West Virginia.
Also want to check in on Missouri, another state where Trump won by double digits. The Republican is ahead there. Josh Hawley by a little more than 14,000 votes and 2% of the vote in, so it's early there.
I want to straight to Nia, her project of the governor race.
NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: That's right, Dana. We can make two projections at this point. We'll start in New York. CNN projects that the winner of that race is Andrew Cuomo, the incumbent of course going for his third term defeating Marc Malinaro in New York.
And we'll move onto another race in Texas, closely watched race. CNN projects that the winner of that race is Gregg Abbott. Again, he's the incumbent going for a second term defeating Lupe Valdez in Texas.
And let's go now to some other races we've been looking at and can't yet make any projections at this point. Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, no projections at this point. It's just too early.
And we'll go now to these other races we've been watching all night long. Florida, Ron DeSantis in this governor's race hanging onto a pretty good lead at this point, 89,000 votes at this point. Over Andrew Gillum who is trying to become the first African American governor in Florida, 96% reporting. A lot of votes there separating those two.
Let's go to Kansas. This was a race Laura Kelly at this point over Kris Kobach. Kris Kobach, of course somebody who Trump endorsed in the primary. He's behind at this point by about 55,000 votes at this point, 34 % report right now.
In Ohio, another race we're watching closely in the Midwest. Ohio. Mike Dewine over Richard Cordray. And this has flipped back and forth all night long at this point, and 80,000 votes at this point Mike Dewine over Richard Cordray the Democrat in this race, in Ohio, 45% reporting.
Let's go back down south to Georgia. Brian Kemp, 258,000 vote lead at this point, 61 %, and you have Stacey Abrams here, a historic going through history here in Georgia, 32 % reporting right now. And we're going to hand you over to Wolf.
BLITZER: Wee have got a projection in the House of Representatives, two holds for the Republicans in Kentucky, the sixth district, the winner incumbent Representative Andy Barr. He's the Republican. We have been watching this race very closely. He was challenged by Amy McGrath. Andy Barr reelected in the Lexington, Kentucky area, Andy Barr, the incumbent Republican get reelected. [21:05:07] In Florida, Ross Spano, the winner, the Republican may beats Kristen Carlson. This is along the I-4 corridor. Ross Spano gets elected in Florida. So right now in the House of Representatives Democrats must pick up 21 Republican seats. It stays the same as a result of this. 21 Republican seats and not lose any of their own. Jake, let's talk about this. 21 seats they still have to pick up, the Democrats.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: It is entirely possible that the Democrats will regain control of the House today. But I have to say, when you look at what's going on here tonight, this is not a blue wave. This is not a wave that is knocking out all sorts of Republican incumbents. We saw, you just called the Kentucky sixth district. Now, there are every all sorts of ways Democrats can regain the House without Amy McGrath having defeated incumbent Congressman Andy Barr, but the fact is she did not. And if she had, that would have really been an indication of a big, powerful blue wave. The fact that she did not, and it is a district that he won two years ago, Congressman Barr by more than 20 points but this was a target.
Democrat did hope to win Kentucky sixth. And you look at the competitive races going on in Florida where Republicans right now have the edge. You look at what's going on in the Indiana Senate race right now. It does look as though Republicans have been able to build something of a wall in certain parts of the country, especially in these states that President Trump won. That said, Democrats still have a decent chance of winning back the House. They still have a number of seats that are very competitive where Democrats are in the lead, and that could still happen.
BLITZER: Yes, they had high hopes for some of those districts where the Republicans managed to pull out a win.
TAPPER: Yes, the Republicans did pull -- well, look you have to -- Democrats have done a good job in recruiting House candidates but Republicans have not sat back and let this happen. They've been fighting for it. And as we see by what's going on in Florida right now, what's going on in Georgia right now, what's going on in Indiana right now, Republicans have managed to get their voters to the polls as well.
BLITZER: Let's go over to John and take a closer look at some of these contests. The Florida Senate race right now is close. John, it's very close but Rick Scott is still ahead.
KING: Rick Scott is still ahead, and you're starting to look at this, 96% of the vote. Now, we went around the state earlier. I'll show you again just to do this, just to show, a smaller Republican rural counties are mostly in. You'll find a couple maybe in the 90s. I just tapped four there and they're 100 %, so most of the Republican vote is in.
Now the question is if you're down 58, can you find them somewhere. And so I was just checking over here again just to look, 91% still in Hillsborough County. This is closer, still closer but if it's -- the rest comes in Bill Nelson pick up some votes here. This one is at a 100. So there are no votes here.
So as always, Democrat in the close race in Florida, what you need is the rest of the vote here. We're up to 87% now. The question is as this kicks up, is Bill Nelson picking up 5,000 votes or is he picking up what he needs which is 20,000 votes, 30,000 votes, higher. There's still enough there in Miami Dade and then a little bit more opportunity here. Not as big but beside just look at state population. Miami Dade 13 plus percent, Broward County, a little over 9, 9 and a half percent, so here and here mathematically possible yes, but you're nail biting time right now in the Nelson campaign as you're trying to find out what precincts are out. What was our turnout?
Let's try to do the map because Palm Beach, the other third, the most reliable Democratic county in state is 100% in. So you're looking at this in the Senate race, let's just check in the close Governor's race. Remember that 58 changed for Rick Scott in his lead there. Ron DeSantis since the Republicans took the lead has had a bigger lead. And that's a significant jump from Rick Scott in the Senate race in the race for governor. Again, it's the same math.
If you look up here, those votes are in, Republicans winning as they have to do out here. 90%, so a little bit more here, a little bit more here for Republicans to come in, in the Panhandle in the Pensacola area. Most of the others are in. And you're looking down again. It's the same calculation.
Let's just check on Tallahassee, Andrew Gillum is the mayor there, 94%. He's winning big. Not as populated. See the vote totals aren't, but an opportunity as you get very close near the end here for Andrew Gillum to pick up some here but just as we were talking about in the Senate race, the big opportunity. I just want to check on Duval. It's pretty much in. It's pretty evenly split too. So a few votes maybe for Andrew Gillum to narrow a bit here but the big basket if it's going to happen it's going to come down here again and the margins in the race are similar, so 60 to 40 in the governor's race, 60 to 40 around them in the Senate race. So we're going to watch. We have to wait for Miami Dade and we have to wait for Broward. I've said that sentence before.
BLITZER: Hold on a moment. Dana, you got a projection in the Senate.
BASH: That's right, Wolf. A major projection, West Virginia's CNN can project that the incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin will go on for another term. This was one of those very key battle ground Senate seats and mostly because the President won there by such large margins.
[21:10:06] So set's look now at what it means for the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Right now 36 Democrats, 42 Republicans. We still have 22 Senate seats that remain out, and, of course if you look at that number on the upper right of your screen, 51 that's the number of seats that Democrats could need to have at the end of the night. The end of whenever we're counting in order to gain control of the U.S. Senate. Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Dana. Let's take a closer look. Joe Manchin in West Virginia he gets reelected. The President gone there maybe times to try to defeat him. He didn't exactly work out for the President.
KING: This is one of the races the President made personal. He's been to West Virginia for rallies I believe maybe late in his campaign he pass it but it had been more than any other state. He always says Joe Manchin says he's with me but never votes with me. I went down there to try to help Patrick Morrisey in this race but Joe Manchin is the ultimate survivor. He was the Democratic governor of the state. We go back to the day Michael Dukakis carried the state. It used to be one of the blue states in America. It is become one of the Ruby red states in America where President Trump is off the charts. President Trump won this state two years ago by 42 points. Joe Manchin, that's a close race. Closer than Manchin would like it, but to win in that environment in that state is a big deal.
BLITZER: That's a big win for Joe Manchin. Let's go to Texas right now. It looks like Ted Cruz, the incumbent Republican has pulled ahead.
KING: There you go. And so as you watch this, we talked about earlier they're small, but there are 200 of them, meaning the smaller rural counties in the state of Texas. And that's what's starting to fill in here to make it closer. By no mean, we're not over. Texas is a big state, it's a diverse state. They only have 55% of the vote. But Beto O'Rourke takes an early lead. Ted Cruz comes back as these Republican counties start to come in. There's not a lot of votes there. But like I said, there are 254 counties in Texas, 200 plus of them are red like this. And that's what's going to happen as they come in. So the question is, you know, assume these are all mostly going to be Republican votes. If you're Beto O'Rourke, you don't like that. Ted Cruz has passed you. So you're looking at the map. You're still giants. Giants pocket of Democratic votes here. Harris County, Houston, and the sprawling Houston suburbs, again one of the most diverse areas in America, one of the fastest growing areas in America, one of the increasingly Democratic areas in America in what used to be a red state. 16 plus percent of the statewide population, and we got nothing. We got nothing. So if you're Beto O'Rourke, you're thinking OK, Ted Cruz pulled ahead. We're still in the game. This is where Beto O'Rourke is from over here and it will pass off. This is where his House seat is. We have no votes here yet as well. So if you're in the Democratic head quarters, you'd rather be ahead than behind. But you still see opportunities especially here and here and if you're Ted Cruz, again you see all these smaller counties and you know those are coming my way. The question for Ted Cruz is going to be the margins.
BLITZER: It is a rural district I believe staying back and forth.
KING: Stay along and what happened? I just said this is home. This was gray a minute ago. We had no votes. So the first votes to come from El Paso, 7, 25. This is Beto (ph) country. One of the questions here for Beto O'Rourke, this is his congressional district right here. As you move out, this is a Republican congressional district. Just next to it. One of the things Texas Democrats were telling me in recent weeks is don't be surprised if Beto makes this closer than you, people in Washington, think because of a point of pride down here.
Again, they never have candidates in statewide elections. So this is Will Hurd's congressional district. If we switch to the House, can Beto O'Rourke keep this blue? The republican voters down here, this is part of the Hurd district there. O'Rourke is running very strong. Again, the vote totals were low here as we watch them come in. So we'll see if the rest holds up but if look at the map, Beto O'Rourke pulled ahead. Texas looking like Florida tonight, isn't it? Back and forth. Back and forth. And we haven't said that in a long time. And that's something to be said in this environment that this is -- there was not a lack of money in this race. Beto O'Rourke became a national fund raising sensation for the Democratic Party. So much so within the last weeks of the campaign there are a lot of Democrats saying, hey kid, you can't win. Send some of this money to other states.
Beto O'Rourke said, oh I think I can win, thank you. And I'm going to keep my money. So we'll watch this play out. 11,762. If look at the map, a long way to go again, most of these smaller counties they're not much of the state population. But they're going to come in for Ted Cruz and when you at them all up, it matters. It matters. We don't have that many close statewide races in Texas. It will go through this that often, Ted Cruz certainly did not have a close race the last time. The governor's race maybe closer than Republicans thought, but they're going to win that race tonight. So as you watch this fill in, here's the challenge, down along the border. Not only do the Democrats win but by how much. Is the immigration debate -- is this a place where the immigration debate helps Republicans here but brings out voters who normally wouldn't vote here? That's a question we'll be asking tonight.
And again, if you look at the map right now, this is a giant unknown, incredibly significant to any statewide election in Texas, 16 plus percent of the statewide population. We have zero, which means if you're Beto O'Rourke, you're ahead and you think if you're Beto O'Rourke, you think you're going to do well there. So that's drop in.
[21:15:00] BLITZER: A real battle in the Senate in Texas. Let's go over to Jake. The House of Representatives, let's show our viewers what's happen right now. We put some numbers up on the screen and you can see it right now, 33 Democrats are leading in Republican districts that are races that are too early to call. Democrats must pick up 21 Republican seats. Five Republicans by the way are leading in Democratic districts that are too early to call, 21 still the magic number for the Democrats to reach 218. But you take a look at this and you see what's going on. Cautionary note for the Democrats, five Republicans are leading in Democratic districts.
TAPPER: Right. But in the same way that when John brings out Texas and shows what Beto O'Rourke has done in Texas, and it may be that ultimately that effort falls short, but what Beto O'Rourke will have done to help some of the Democrats running for the House in Texas may be quite significant in terms of getting out voters who were excited to vote for him and ultimately helping to defeat a couple if not more Republican congressman while ultimately not able to win himself. And that in some ways is a picture of what is going on this evening, because Republicans are winning some big races right now. And there's some we haven't called yet, but it looks as though the Republicans will be victorious in that state. And yet Democrats in individual congressional districts might be doing enough so that they are able to win the 21 seats that they have yet to turn over from Republican to Democrat.
And you see there are 31 Democrats leading in Republican places as of right now. If they win 21 of those, not including the sixth Republican leading in Democratic districts then ultimately they will win control of the House. And we still have a whole section of the country that has not even closed their polls yet in the west coast.
BLITZER: Dana has a got a significant projection in the Senate.
BASH: We sure do, Wolf. The State of Tennessee, CNN can project that Marsha Blackburn, the Republican candidate will keep this open Republican seat in GOP hands. Not only that, Marsha Blackburn will be the first female senator to represent the state of Tennessee. This is a big win for Republicans. And a big, big loss for Democrats who knew that Tennessee was a chance for them -- or the only chances for them if they could win to take back the Senate, so let's look at the big picture, the balance of power. Democrats right now have 36 seats. Republicans have 43 seats. 21 seats remain to be called before the end of the evening or maybe early tomorrow morning. Wolf and Jake.
BLITZER: Yes. They had high hopes in Tennessee, the Democrats not -- didn't necessarily happen.
TAPPER: No, they didn't and so one of the things to look at here is first the big picture. What does this mean in terms of control of the Senate now that CNN has projected that Joe Manchin, the Democrat will keep his seat in West Virginia. I mean, from the U.S. Senate seat representing West Virginia, and Marsh Blackburn will keep that, which is former senator -- soon to be former senator Bob Corker, Republican seat will keep that seat in Republican hands.
So let's look at the picture. Here is the U.S. Senate. 36 Democrats, 43 Republicans with 21 seats outstanding. Of those we only think the 10 are competitive. So then let's look at them. All right, so we've put West Virginia in the Democratic column and we've put Tennessee in the Republican column. So what does that mean in terms of balance of power? Well, let's just, for the sake of argument, give Texas to the Republicans. We haven't called it yet. So I'm not saying that's going to happen. Let's ultimately give Mississippi to Republicans too. Then what happens? You know, let's say that Heidi Heitkamp has a bad night. North, that's it. That's all they need to do, because the map really favors the Republicans. So with the Republicans grabbing Tennessee or keeping Tennessee in Republican hands, even with Joe Manchin having a good night, ultimately let's say -- let's do it again. Let's give Indiana, we haven't called this yet. But let's give Indiana to the Republicans and have Senator Ted Cruz win. Then what happens? I don't know what if Mississippi, which we all -- oh there you go, see, the map favors the Republicans and so ultimately Tennessee, that's a big victory for the Republicans. Because then all they need to do is win two more, and then they have the control.
BLITZER: Yeah, looking good for the Republicans in the Senate. The House, Democrats still have very, very strong chance of taking the majority. Anderson, over to you.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, thanks very much. Our reporters and analysts have been watching, along with everybody else, also checking to sources. I just want to quickly run through some first impressions. David Chalian?
DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, what Jake was talking about there, Tennessee was the Senate race I was watching all night to sort of figure when does the Senate go off the board here? That was critical. Because if indeed as expected down the road Heidi Heitkamp loses her North Dakota seat, Tennessee was a critical part of what the Democrats needed to put in play to have a real shot at the majority barring the Beto O'Rourke miracle in Texas. So I do think that was hugely significant, because the battle for control of the Senate, I think is going to become the second tier story now. It's not in play, which is what we thought coming in as much.
[21:20:12] The House side, Anderson, Democrats are doing what they need to do, but I don't think we're seeing some massive blue wave crashing ashore yet. I don't see signs of that, but they are on track to do what they need.
COOPER: Do you see a blue wave?
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No, not at all. And I think what you're seeing here even if Democrats take control of the House is falling short of expectations on a lot of key races. Some places where they thought they could send a message to President Trump. They're not going to be able to do that in the way they would have liked to do it. And for President Trump you're seeing the payoff for his investment in some of the races.
COOPER: Sorry. I just going to show Texas tied right now, tied Beto O'Rourke has 79 votes more than Ted Cruz at this point.
PHILLIP: Take a picture of that.
CHALIAN: 79 votes.
PHILLIP: That could be a moral victory for Democrats if they pull that out. But there are still along way to go there but I think for President Trump he's looking at Florida, a place where he spent a lot of time. Donald Trump Junior went into that Kentucky sixth seat where Andy Barr just pulled it out. I think the Republicans are feeling pretty good about their investment of time.
COOPER: David Axelrod?
DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think it's early on the House side to draw too many conclusions. I think there are a lot of races even race in the east in Virginia that are very much up for grabs right now. So I think the House picture is unclear. I think some of the early Senate results are disappointing for Democrats. Although, I don't think there was a realist expectation that Democrats were going to take the Senate. Now it looks like Republicans could expand their majority in the Senate. COOPER: Even some of the gubernatorial ran, Florida, when you look, you know, Rick Scott right now is in the lead in Senate with 55,000 votes and Gillum has been -- I mean that's -- it's been --
AXELROD: Florida is a disappointment.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Florida is -- yeah, because it's so tight.
AXELROD: Yes.
BORGER: And because they thought the top of the ticket would help down ticket. Look, there was a dream tonight for Democrats which was that early on they'd be able to say OK, we won a couple in Virginia. We won in Kentucky and this is going to show that this wave is starting and you can't stop it.
Now, they can still win n the House. I think it's probably more likely they will win the House than not, but they can't have -- there's no tsunami. There's no tsunami coming. I mean winning the House by one vote -- by one member is enough for them. But there's a lot of disappointment I'm hearing from people. I'm also hearing talk about recounts in Florida. Can you believe it? And the lawyers going to Florida, so, you know, this has to really play out, but the excitement, I think is -- the cliche is the balloon is popping.
COOPER: Among Democrats.
BORGER: Yes.
AXELROD: Lots of excitement.
COOPER: Yeah.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Van?
VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, first of all there are still people standing in line in Georgia. There are still people standing in line in Florida. This is not over. People need to stay out there and continue the fight. This is heart breaking, though. It's heart breaking. The hope has been that the anti-bodies could kick in. That this sort of infestation of hatred and division would drive response from the American people really in both parties and say no more and no more. That does not seem to be happening tonight. It's not a blue wave, but it's a blue war. We have to continue the fight forward. But I think that sense of helplessness, that has really fuelled a lot of this outrage and outpouring from Democrats may still be there tomorrow even if we have the House.
COOPER: Governor?
JENNIFER GRANHOLM, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I definitely think the outrage will still be there. The disappointment will be there certainly on the Senate side. I'm not giving up on the governors yet, even the governor of Florida.
JONES: Stay in line.
GRANHOLM: I know, right? Georgia has not had Atlanta come in yet. But in Michigan and in some of these other races in Ohio, I think there's still great hope out. Obviously Pennsylvania, that Midwestern cluster of states, Wisconsin, we'll see what happens. I'm still -- my nails are still like clutching to hope that we can win at least on the governor's side and certainly --
COOPER: More polls closing obviously in 36 minutes.
Senator?
RICK SANTORUM, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You can't have a wave election when both sides are energized. And ultimately both sides are. This was a huge turnout. All around the country people are saying we've never seen a midterm election like this, and it wasn't just Democrats. And ultimately both sides -- this was a huge turnout election. I mean, everywhere I talk to all the around the country, we're seeing we've never seen a midterm election like this and it was just Democrats.
You lose when one size energized and the other isn't. Both sides, you have to give Donald Trump credit for energizing. The other thing that's really remarkable is that Republicans where -- everybody I talked to said we were outspent two, three to one. The Democrats had all the money and all the media, and they still couldn't win it. Even with the divisive figure of the President on top of the ticket. That is a message of solace to a lot of conservatives who were worried about this being a disaster.
COOPER: And for all that talk about the future of the Democratic Party and what the messages and how far left that should be or separate?
SANTORUM: The message was anti-Trump. The message just never got across.
[21:25:01] JONES: I don't agree with that.
SANTORUM: I think that was the motivating factor. The message of --
COOPER: David Urban?
DAVID URBAN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Look, so the question, did the caravan ads work? The answer clearly is yes tonight we just see, right? Whether you like him or not.
COOPER: Wait. Let him finish.
URBAN: They worked. To just echo what Van had said earlier, Donald Trump, this is the best shot of politics, you hit the guy, he absorbs it, he gets stronger. Or Rick, whoever said it. But you hit him, he absorbs it and gets stronger and he is going to come out tomorrow. This is going to be a big win for the President. COOPER: Van you said you disagreed.
JONES: Well, I don't agree. I mean, listen, yes, there's a lot of anti-Trump at the top of the conversation. But on the ground you had and still have domestic workers who are out there knocking on doors in Georgia. They weren't fighting about Trump. They were fighting about their ability to see a doctor. And on the ground you had a million doors knocked on in Florida. Those people were talking about health care and real issues with people they're going to fight for their lives.
SANTORUM: I agree, but what people here on all the networks is Trump negative, negative, negative Trump. And what you said about, you know, the antibodies coming out against race and bigotry, a lot of people just bristle that because they support Trump but they're racist and they're not bigots and they don't like to be called that.
COOPER: I got to get to John King because I want to follow this race in Texas right now. Beto O'Rourke with 107 votes now ahead.
KING: Unpredictability, Anderson. There's one thing we saw in 2016, that's something we're seeing in 208. We still have a ways to go. But we're now at 70%, that was 70% in the state of Texas. And the Democrats, Beto O'Rourke is leading the Senate race. That will surprise a lot of people. One of the things that's happened recently since the last time we had the conversation is we got the first votes in from Harris County, which is Houston. And the sprawling Houston suburbs, one of the fastest growing areas in the country, not just in the state of Texas, 16 point plus of the state-wide population, Beto O'Rourke running it up strongly, 57 to 42 and only 16% of the vote in, so if you're a Republican you're saying OK, this is Texas. So go back to its DNA. Maybe it will. Maybe it will but only 16% of the vote reporting in one of the fastest growing counties in the state, and in the country and guess what, Beto O'Rourke running it up.
So you pull out the map and look and say what are they doing in Ted Cruz head quarters? What are they thinking about? Where are the votes? A lot of them, a lot of them. The small counties, a lot of Republican votes, don't discount them. In a close race every vote counts, even if you're winning 1400 to 274 that's 33% of the vote. If you look at Harris County and say, oh come on that doesn't count. Well, it does count when there are 200 plus of them. And there are. Small rural counties in Texas, so you count them all, that's why they cast them. And there are opportunities for Ted Cruz here. But this is an interesting map. Something we haven't looked at in a long time, a competitive state-wide race in the state of Texas. So you come in. I just want to check and see if the numbers changed. No. Harris County, Houston and the suburbs, which is above down below here, starting to get smaller here, but look, this is what I mean. This part of the state is growing, 2.5%. More competitive as you move away, right? Urban areas, big Democrat. Close in suburbs, big Democrat. Start moving away, that's the challenge. Can the Democrats keep winning as you move away from the urban areas? Beto O'Rourke doing what he needs to there.
The other big part of the state, Dallas County, again, smaller than Harris County, now 9.4% of state population, 63 to 33 we're talking about the Senate race. There's also a congressional district right here, the Republicans think they're going to lose tonight in part because of the Beto O'Rourke effect, whether Beto O'Rourke wins or losing. Pull it back out, you come down here. Austin, Travis County, Democrats have to win big here. It's not as big, if you look, 4.2% of the statewide population. Beto O'Rourke doing what he needs to do, and saying he told people, you watch, I'm going to turn out more votes than you think I can. We'll see if he gets there in the end but so far he's doing what he said. Then you move down here again San Antonio, another Democratic area running it up. Pretty good vote totals there. And you come in -- and you could try to go back in time and look. You know, how does this match up historically? Well, Ted Cruz didn't have a race last time. He didn't really have a race last time. You see all this right up here. But just remember, just look at the map and see all of the red.
Now you come here. There's more blue. There's more blue. And now there's still some gray. We got votes to come in. But there's more blue. This is Beto's home. El Paso, only 3% of the state population but in a close race, it's nice to run it up 75-25 somewhere. And we'll going to watch. I talked about all the unfilled in gray up here in small rural Texas. We expect to come in red by significant margins. The question is what's happening in what called Beto O'Rourke country? Next to El Paso, we still don't have any votes here. It's very tiny here, very tiny here. But you do have -- as you start moving down along the boarder, as David Urban talking about the caravan ads. No question, the focus on immigration anyway by the President did help in some places as this Texas race is very close tonight in this border areas, Latino areas here, here. You could also see the reverse of that in the State of Texas as we watch this one play out. Remarkably close, 50.6 percent, 48.7. 51 to 49, a hundred thousand votes lead in a competitive race in the state of Texas. Wolf.
[21:30:04] BLITZER: Very, very close. We've got some numbers to show the big picture of the House of Representatives right now. Some encouragement for the Democrats, 31 Democrats right now are leading in Republican districts in races that are too early to call. The Democrats must pick up 21 Republican seats. One cautionary note, 5 Republicans are leading in Democratic districts right now in races that are too early to call. But 31, they're leading in 31, John. Where are they leading in those 31 districts? Because for the Democrats, they smell victory in the House of Representatives.
KING: Part of it, I'll get to it in a minute. We don't know what this will hold up, but part of it is here in the State to Texas where the Democrats are leading in six districts. Six districts right now held by Republicans. That would be beyond the Democrat's dreams. Will they get six? Who knows? But they want to pick up at least two in Texas. That tells you the Democrats in the State of Texas are on par for their math.
Let's come over to what we have more results. One of the things we cannot compare tonight and cannot emphasize enough tonight for Democrats trying to get to that magic number was total of 23, now 21. The new lines in the State of Pennsylvania, court ordered said Republicans went too far drawing the lines. Newer, more competitive, better lines for the Democrats. Democrats right now are on path to pick up seats significant number of seats as you try to get now to 21 over all goal of 23.
Pennsylvania is an opportunity for the Democrats right now. We still need to count the votes. It's early in some of these districts but it looks good. Virginia has been back and forth all night. This is been a fascinating state. The Democrats have already picked up this district, the 10th. That was the first one. The first of the pickups in the evening and this is what the Democrats needed to do, significant though just to remember 55-45, 10 points in a previously Republican district, Democrats winning in the suburbs.
So now you come down. This race has gone back and forth all night long. Abigail Spanberger, I looked at this two minutes ago. She was losing. More results have come in, it's at 92% now, 380 votes.
BLITZER: Wow.
KING: 380 votes, welcome to the 2018 midterm elections. Now, if you're the Democrats, you know, this is a race, again, Richmond Suburbs just like the northern Virginia suburbs. The President's a problem for Republican candidates here. This is Tea Party and Trump country. Dave Brat won before Donald Trump was on the national scene, knocked off a Republican incumbent. Tea Party votes here in the rural areas. Tough competitive district, Democrats back in the lead. Watch that.
Another one, Democrats wanted at least one. They were hoping for two, maybe three in Virginia. Let's keep an eye over here on the coast. Scott Taylor, 91%. The Republican incumbent, Scott Taylor losing, an incredibly close race but 4,000 votes with 91% right now, so watch as that comes in.
The Democrats had a plan. We'll get to New York and New Jersey. Those polls close later. Picked up a lot in New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, they needed at least one. They were hoping for two or three in Virginia. You're looking at the map now. They got one. The question is can they keep going? And then you pull back out and look at it. Come down to Florida, we've done the business down here. This was a flip. This one we already called, I'm sorry, this one we're already caught here, this one we're watching as we come through. We're up to 93%, the Democratic candidate running ahead of the Republican incumbent here. This would be a big target for the Democrats to get that one. Pick up opportunity in Florida. So they have won. They're looking at a second.
Now I just want to come back to this Texas races and look -- well, let me actually come up here for a minute because this is another one here. I want to come back to Johnny broken record, the suburbs. This is Kansas. But this is Kansas City. The Kansas City suburbs, Democrats think can we get Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder again? We got a way to go in this race but the Democrat pulls out to an early lead. See that, we come over this district here. We'll see how this one plays out. Paul Davis, one of the many Democrats who say under no circumstances
will I vote for Nancy Pelosi, it won't happen. It doesn't matter, it won't happen. Well, we'll see if he get the chance, 32% of the vote coming in, Paul Davis winning over the Republican, Steve Watkins. Again that's early in the count there. But if you're looking at the map, the Democrats did leave some seats on the table over this way. It looks like the Midwest is actually being nicer to the Democrats than some other parts of the country. They had opportunities but again, we'll going to come down here. This to me, this is Will Hurd' district. Ortiz Jones, the Democratic candidate 858 votes again. So again, these are leading. They're not called. They're leading. But this is a race, Hillary Clinton carried this district. Will Hurd has been running scared from the beginning, running a smart campaign. The question is, number one, this is a place where the President's immigration focus hurt? There were places it helped without a doubt but is this a place where the President immigration focus hurt? Number one, and number two is Will Hurd going to get caught up in the Beto O'Rourke effect, Beto O'Rourke from El Paso? Democrats turning out in this part of the state. We'll watch that play out.
I just want to come up over here to Houston to see if we have this district here. This was another one we had no results a short time ago. Harris County, surrounding areas just started to come in. This was a major Democratic target in Texas, another suburban Republican. Democrat ahead by 840 votes, 77% of the vote in, that's a trouble sign for a Republican incumbent. We'll keep counting but that's a trouble sign there.
[21:35:14] Houston suburbs, let's move up a little bit. Come over here, Dallas suburbs, Pete Sessions, Republican incumbent, Chamber of Commerce, other groups winning there, a lot of money trying to helping Pete Sessions out, 14,000 votes ahead in a congressional race here. Again, you're beating the drum but suburban America Democrats are not to the finish line yet. But as they try to get closer and closer to the magic number, they began the night at 23. Suburban America right now is their base.
BLITZER: Dana has two more projections in the U.S. Senate. Dana.
BASH: Two big projections in the U.S. Senate starting with Indiana. This is big because this is a Republican pickup. CNN is projecting that Mike Braun is going to be the next senator from Indiana beating the incumbent Democrat Joe Donnelly. And in Wisconsin the Democrat is going to go on for another term. CNN is projecting that Tammy Baldwin has won her race in Wisconsin, so two big projections, especially in Indiana.
Let's look at what this means for the balance of power right now in the U.S. Senate, 37 Democrats, 44 Republicans as you saw, the one pickup so far, 19 seats remaining for the evening, 51 at the top of the screen. That's very hard to -- for Democrats to do right now. And that is the number that they would need to take control of the U.S. Senate. Wolf and Jake.
BLITZER: You know, the Democrats have a very, very limited route right now to take the majority in the U.S. Senate with the defeat of Joe Donnelly, the incumbent Democrat in Indiana.
TAPPER: Limited is a nice way to put it. It's generous way to put it. It looks increasingly like not only will Democrats not win back the Senate but that they'll actually lose seats in the Senate this evening. We're right now -- we haven't called Florida yet but Nelson, the incumbent Democrat is trailing in the vote there to Governor Rick Scott, who is running for that Senate seat.
And then we just called Indiana. Now, we should point out Indiana is a state that President Trump won. He won it handily by almost 18 or 19 percentage points. But, still, that's a big loss for the Democrats. Let's look at the board here in terms of what the Democrats need. 19 seats remain in terms of what there is. We think nine of them are competitive that have not been called. We put Manchin in West Virginia held on to a seat. We put that in the Democratic column.
Tennessee, that seat staying in the Republican column, the governor -- former governor Phil Bredesen did not beat the Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn. She will be the Tennessee's first woman senator and that seat stays Republican. We have now called a Democratic seat flipping to Republican Indiana. So what else did Republicans need to do in order to keep control of the Senate? Well, let's give them Mississippi. Because it's Mississippi, for God's sake, and then right now, with the vote coming in, I mean, we could give them Texas, we can give them Nevada.
Let's give Texas to the Democrats just for giggles and let's see what happens. What else do the Republicans need to do? Well, I don't know. There's one, two, three, four, five Democrat seats, two Republican seats. Let's say that Heidi Heitkamp has a bad night. North Dakota. There it is. Republicans win the control of the Senate because of course in a 50/50 Senate Mike Pence breaks the tie. But I think it's actually going to be worse than that for Republicans. I think it's entirely possible they're going to pick up seats. This is always going to be a tough map.
BLITZER: Yes.
TAPPER: But it's going in the wrong direction at the beginning it was Democrats need to switch two seats. Now they need to switch three. Democrats need to start going in the other direction instead of losing incumbent Democrats to Republicans.
BLITZER: Not in the right direction in the Senate. But in the House it's a very different story right now. Take a look at this as you can see 21 -- there are 32 Democrats leading in Republican districts right now in races that are too early to call. Democrats must pick up 21 Republican seats. Republicans are leading in Democratic districts in five Democratic districts. Let's go over -- let's talk a little bit about that, Jake --
TAPPER: Yes.
BLITZER: -- as we take a look at the numbers right now. TAPPER: So 32 Democrats are leading in Republican districts right
now, 5 Republicans are leading in Democratic districts. So let's just do some simple math here and just assume all of those go the way that they're going right now, which is not going to happen. But just for argument's sake, that means the Democrats would win 27 seats. We haven't even -- by the way, gotten to the west coast of the United States.
BLITZER: Right.
TAPPER: So --
BLITZER: There are several potential Democrats.
TAPPER: Absolutely but that's 27 when all they need right now is 21 because we've already called two Republican seats that have flipped from Republican to Democratic control in northern Virginia and then in southern Florida. So -- I mean, that's one of the things going on right now. It still seems even though Democrats aren't having a good night on the state wide contest -- Senate contests, it does still seems that they're on track to win back the House.
[21:40:06] BLITZER: We have two significant projections right now. And Democrats pick up two seats, two important seats in Pennsylvania. The Mary Gay Scanlon, she picks up the district in the Philadelphia suburbs. She defeats Pearl Kim, she's an attorney in Pennsylvania. This is an important pickup for the Democrats in Pennsylvania, the fifth district.
And Conor Lamb, we all remember him from the special election in western Pennsylvania in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Conor Lamb gets re-elected in that district. He beats Keith Rothfus, the Democrats now that number has gone down. Democrats must pick up 19 Republican seats. Not lose any of their own. The number has gone down, Jake from 23 to 19. So they're moving slowly but surely. That's what it looks like in the House of Representatives.
TAPPER: That's right. And these were seats that we did expect the Democrats would win. But still, they're on track to do that. Nancy Pelosi --
BLITZER: Hold on one second. Let me just point out to our viewer, right now Democrats are leading in 31 Republican districts in races that are too close to call. Democrats once again, they have to pick up 19 of those Republican seats. Six Republicans are leading in Democratic districts in races that are too early to call. So Democrats are moving in the right direction from their perspective, but it's not a done deal yet.
TAPPER: On a House to House level. But when it comes to the big statewide federal contest, the Senate seats things are not working in their direction. Actually, this is pretty much what we thought was going to happen. That Republicans had a great map when it came to the Senate and Democrats had the advantage when it came to the House. And it's pretty much working out that way. Democrats did hope for a big blue wave. That is not happening. Will
Democrats win back the House? It is entirely possible, if not probable according to models right now, but the big blue wave is not there. Key House seats that Democrats thought wow, it would be great if we can win this seat, Kentucky 6, etcetera that didn't happen.
BLITZER: So the battle for the House is still unfolding. Once again, Democrats leading in 31 Republican-held districts, more than the 19 pickups they need to reclaim the majority. Note, Republicans are ahead in six Democratic held districts. Polls close in four more states soon. That could push the Democrats closer to taking back the House. Stay with us.
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[21:46:03] BLITZER: All right. Let's go to Dana. She's got a projection.
BASH: A projection in the Garden State, Wolf. CNN can project that Democratic Senator Bob Mendez will go on for another term in the State of New Jersey. It was unclear for a while because he had a lot of money going in for his Republican opponent, but he is going to go on for another term. So what does this mean for the balance of power? 38 Democrats right now, 44 Republicans. Remember, one pickup on the GOP side. 18 Senate seats remain to be called. I want to go to Nia for a projection.
HENDERSON: That's right, Dana. We can make some projections in the governor's races. In Illinois CNN projects that the winner of that race is J.B. Pritzker defeating Bruce Rauner in that race, this is a pickup for Democrats, a very, very expensive race, Democrats out ahead in that race.
In Oklahoma, CNN projects that the winner of that race is Kevin Stitt, the Republican defeating Drew Edmondson in that governor's race.
Another projection CNN can make in Alabama. Kay Ivey CNN projects the incumbent of defeating of Walt Maddox in this race going for her first full term in Alabama.
In South Carolina another CNN projection, Henry McMaster CNN projects the winner in that race defeating James Smith.
And now let's check in on these races that we've been looking at in Wisconsin. Tony Evers in Wisconsin ahead of Scott Walker at this point, the incumbent in the race, Tony Evers ahead by about 10,000 votes, 23% reporting. We'll keep an eye on this really important contest in the Midwest. We're going to go to Wolf Blitzer with a Key Race Alert or projection in the House.
BLITZER: Now we got a Key Race Alert. Let's take a look at where things stand in the House of Representatives right now. Impressive numbers for the Democrats, 33 Democrats are leading in Republican districts in races that are still too early to call. Remember Democrats must pick up now 19 Republican seats. 19 Republican seats, they started the night with 23. But one cautionary note as I like to say, 7 Republicans are leading in Democratic districts right now. Seven Republicans are leading in Democratic districts right now.
All right, let's go to John King. John, the 33 Democrats that are leading in Republican districts they need what, 21. It's an impressive number for the Democrats, very doable that they can get the majority.
KING: They need 19 more. They need 19 more and there are your targets of opportunity. And again, we still have a ways to go to the west coast.
One quick note, you made this key point, seven Republicans leading in districts now held by Republicans. We don't know, those seven Republican is going to win but one of the things we're seeing tonight is the remaking of the American political map. In that, down here in the Dallas suburbs, in the Houston suburbs in Texas, Democrats are leading in congressional races.
Republicans leading in rural Minnesota. White, rural areas that used to be the backbone of the Democratic Labor Party in Minnesota, we're not saying these Republicans are going to win, but they're leading. This is Donald Trump's Republican Party. It's a different Republican Party. This was happening before Donald Trump, this is accelerating under him. We'll see how this happens.
But now the Democrats, 19 more they need. As we start to get results from New York and New Jersey this is where you see more targets of opportunity. Three Democrats leading right now in Republican held seats in the state of New York, leading early votes coming in. Here's one of them here, Elise Stefanik, the Republican incumbent, 52 to 48. But again, low vote count, very early to strap in. But this is one of the Democrat's targets right here, up here and this one, Wolf, close to home. Close from Buffalo, can Chris Collins, at 1 point, he got to get off the ballot he is under indictment for insider trading and charges elect (ph). At one point they were trying to get him off the ballot. He decided to stay on the ballot. Again, very early votes, the Democrat 220 votes again there. That would be a huge pickup because it's such a Republican district. This was not on any democratic target list when the year begun. It's Collins legal travel. They put it on the target there.
[21:50:08] Let's move down here. Again, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a huge target of opportunity because the lines have been redrawn in the state here, five Democrats currently leading, one Republican, so if the Democrats can get a net four or more out of Pennsylvania when you're trying to get to 23, 19 is your target now. We've been talking throughout the night. Are you picking up the seats you need to pick up? Are you leaving any targets on the table? This is a Republican retirement. Two dozen Republican retirements is out there in the country gave the Democrats hope.
Look how close these races are though. Again, you know, the Democrat is leading here, southern New Jersey. This is one of the districts on Frank LoBiondo's district on the Democratic list here but, again, 929 votes. Let's stay with it a while.
I just want to come back up here for you. This was a race. And we're only 37%. Maybe it will change. But this was a race that was personal to national Democrats in the sense that Tom MacArthur, the Republican incumbent was the moderate who stepped forward. He was the key architect of the compromise to repeal and replace Obamacare.
In the House of Representatives, Democrats wanted to get Tom MacArthur. They thought Andy Kim was the right candidate. Only 37% so we don't know what's out but if you look at that right now, that was a target race for the Democrats that they might leave on the table. As we watch that play out. But the big picture is, again, we're still out here. The Democrats have the opportunities to pick them up.
One of the things I've been watching is Illinois in the sense that there's one potential Democratic pickup here, Randy Hultgren, the Republican incumbent. Lauren Underwood running ahead right now in a congressional race with 62% in, but that's an OK lead.
We've been watching some other races in this area as well that have gone back and forth. Peter Roskam, member of the House Republican leadership, he was losing earlier. He's inching ahead right now. We'll keep watching this race. This was another race on the Democratic target list in the state of Illinois where we just projected the governor's race.
One of the things that the Democrat think will help them in the Midwest is they think they're running strong in these governors races. If you go back to 1994 on the Republican revolution, they needed 40 to pick up the House. They got 52 in part because their gubernatorial candidates in the Midwest were running so strong.
As we move west, number one, the Democrats are still leading in two districts in Kansas. This was the target race they did think they could get. We're at 23%. Kansas City, Missouri here, we got a city, Kansas here, Suburban area. Trouble even in Kansas for Donald Trump's Republican Party, we'll see if the Democrat can hold up here. We move out here, 49-41. Again, if this holds up, if the Democrats retake the House and this is one of the races they win, Paul Davis has said under no circumstances will I vote for Nancy Pelosi.
BLITZER: I'm curious, in what states are the Democrats getting the most potential pickups right now?
KING: Right now you see Pennsylvania by far. Pennsylvania by far is their biggest pickup opportunity right now. Then as you watch it, you've got two on the board in New York right now, very early in both of those New York districts. But two in New York, four or five in the State of Pennsylvania, you start coming down. If you look at Virginia, they've already picked up one in Virginia. The Democrats are in play, 97% now, 1766 votes. This was a big target. Democrats wanted this one. Number one, some Republicans privately wanted Dave Brat to lose, to tell you the truth right there. Wolf, back to you for another projection.
BLITZER: We've got a couple of projections right now. 6th district in Colorado, CNN now projects that Jason Crow will defeat Republican Congressman Mike Coffman. Jason Crow, a former U.S. Army Ranger, this is a pickup for the Democrats in the State of Colorado.
In Michigan, Michigan 11, House District 11, Haley Stevens, the Democrat, she will defeat Lena Epstein. She used to work in the Obama administration on the auto bailout. In Michigan, Haley Stevens will become the Democratic representative from Michigan. So right now that number has gone down from 19 to 17. Democrats must pick up 17 Republican seats right now in order to get the magic number, not lose any of their own. 17 is the magic number for the Democrats right now.
Let's go over to John. So it's gone down from 19 to 17. The Democrats are smiling right now as the number continues to decline.
KING: They are smiling especially because again, you just called that race in Colorado. That was a target of opportunity, a key pickup for the Democrats to prove their point, again, in the Denver suburbs, that they could pick up these previously Republican seats in suburban areas where the President of the United States, this wasn't about Mike Coffman, the President of the United States is toxic out there, plus the changing demographics of the district. But that one's off the board now, right? That was here a minute ago.
Democrats see more opportunities in the states that haven't closed yet, including a number in the big state of California. But so you're looking now the Democrats need 17 more, and they're leading in 31. Tells you the math is pretty good, eight Republicans leading right now in Democratic districts. If those Republicans win, it affects the Democratic math, so you're going to stay with us through the next couple hours as we go through this.
It's interesting to see where are the Republicans leading? I just want to pop this one here again. These are obviously early results from here. This is a district drawn from Emanuel Cleaver, the former mayor of Kansas City. Now, he's losing right now. But that's a very low vote total again. That would be stunner. Now there is a Senate race out there. Sometimes the dynamics of a race change. But that would be a stunner. So you're looking at these races, are these really pickup opportunities for the Republicans.
[21:55:08] I would be skeptical there. The Democrats in Kansas, here's one, 53-42% there, so a ways to go, 56% there. The Democrats have been holding the lead, not a huge lead, but the Democrats been holding that lead for a while. The Democrats -- think about the math. If the Democrats were to leave some seats on the table in the east but pick up one or two in Kansas, a pickup seat, you start looking here, an Oklahoma seat, we'll see if that holds up.
Mark, a little bit suspect but if you look right now, Steve Russell, the Republican incumbent, we're at 66% in. It's a close race. That's a close race, 1,700 there. We'll watch. And then you come down here. Again, down to Texas, this is where four Democrats leading at this moment. Leading doesn't mean win, but leading at this moment in Republican-held seats and number one, Will Hurd.
Hillary Clinton carried this district. Look how close that is, 256 votes, only 10% reporting. Let's hold on and see how this one plays out. Will Hurd was confident in the end, maybe more nervous a few months ago, confident at the end but again we'll see and again we'll get to the Senate race in a moment. Is there a Beto effect down here because Beto O'Rourke is from here.
Let's come back up to the Dallas suburbs, 8% of the vote in. Republicans, the night texts, messages all night long, thinking their long time incumbent Pete Sessions once ran the House Congressional Campaign Committee, they think he may go down. But that's only 8%. We'll see how this one plays out. Again, another suburban district, reliably Republican district, it looks like it could flip blue tonight. That would be key for the Democrats.
Another district down here. This was not on our list but we'll take a look here and see if it turns out. Only 2% so you're going to see some races on this map where you have 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% 5% even 10% or 20% in, in their precincts from one area of the district. Now, the rest comes in, it goes but that's worth watching.
And again, down here, this is also key in the Senate race. This has stayed this way. Lizzie Fletcher, Democratic challenger beating veteran Republican incumbent right now John Culberson, 53% rounded up to 47%. This would be a big pickup for the Democrat and another suburban district in a once red state, reliably red suburban district. And so, again, you see it, Democrats winning in the suburbs, Republicans leading up here in more rural, blue-collar Minnesota, a remaking of the American political map, we'll see if these hold on. Let's take a look at these. Minnesota's 8th congressional district up here, this is an opportunity for the Democrats and Republicans fighting this one out, an open seat. The Democratic congressman who held that seat ran for other office, the Democratic incumbent, Collin Peterson next door, only 6% of the vote in, 730 votes. But let's watch it. Republicans certainly more competitive out there in Minnesota, Wolf.
BLITZER: We've got two more major projections in the House of Representatives. Right now more good news for the Democrats right now. In New Jersey, the Democratic candidate, Mikie Sherrill is the winner. She defeats Jay Webber, she is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot. Mikie Sherrill gets the win. It's a pickup for the Democrats in New Jersey.
Similarly in Florida, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell defeats the Republican incumbent Carlos Curbelo in that district. She really went after Carlos Curbelo on Obamacare and other issues. CNN now projects House 26 in Florida, she is the winner. Right now Democrats must pick up 15 Republican seats. That number is consistently going down, John. So those are two major pickups for the Democrats in this race for the House majority.
KING: And so you're going through to look for others. And I'm just looking at 9:00 poll closing in New York. So you're trying to look up there. There's Dan Donovan, Republican incumbent. Max Rose, the Democratic challenger. Again, 86% of the vote in, 52-48 we're not quite there. But here's another one in New York State. Let's pull back out and look at New York. Come back over here. Move up here to the New York area is up here. John Faso, Republican incumbent. Just 1%, but that's a target for the Democrats. We'll see. Another one here, Claudia Tenney, the Republican incumbent losing with
3% in. Again, that's early. We mentioned the calls district earlier. The big picture, Wolf, if you pull this all out, is the Democrats well within striking distance of taking back the House, more than enough targets of opportunity. The question now as we go through more states about the close, can they close the deal here and as we move west?
BLITZER: All right, polls are about to close as we know in four more states right now as Democrats get closer and closer to their goal of trying to retake the House of Representatives. These are very, very close races right now. Democrats have been consistently moving ahead in their race to become the majority in the House of Representatives. They need 218 in the House of Representatives to become the majority, and that would be such a significant development right now. About right now, the Democrats are moving closer and closer and closer. We're watching all of this unfold. The Senate, there's a different story right now, but we're going to update you right now because Democrats are closer to retaking the House.
We've got a projection right now in the U.S. Senate. Mitt Romney, he will be the next United States senator from the state of Utah--
