Iowa election results: Joni Ernst wins reelection in another blow for Senate Democrats

‘We came up short,’ Democratic challenger says

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst has held onto her seat, as Democrat Theresa Greenfield has conceded.

“Folks, it’s been a long night and unfortunately we came up short. I couldn't be more proud of the work we all put in. This race was never about me — it’s about creating a future that works for all Iowans. And that fight doesn’t stop tonight. Thank you,” Ms Greenfield said.

Considered by nearly every major US elections handicapper to be a toss-up race, Iowa breaking for Ms Ernst presents another blow to Senate Democrats’ hopes of taking back a chamber majority.

Democrats came into Election Night needing to gain a net pickup of four seats or three seats plus the presidency to reclaim a Senate majority they have not savoured since 2015.

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly of Arizona ousted senators Cory Gardner and Martha McSally in their home states, respectively.

But Republican former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville defeated Democratic Senator Doug Jones in Alabama, meaning Democrats have only netted one seat so far.

Maine’s Senate election between GOP incumbent Susan Collins and Democrat Sara Gideon was too close to call by 1:15am on Wednesday.

So was the race in North Carolina between Senator Thom Tillis and Democrat Cal Cunningham.

Ms Collins and Mr Tillis both had leads well into Election Night.

Control of the Senate could very well come down to the two races in Georgia, where GOP Senator David Perdue has not yet fended off Democrat Jon Ossoff and a special election between Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock is headed to a runoff.

The matchup in Iowa between Ms Ernst and Ms Greenfield shattered the record as the most-expensive race in state history.

Ms Greenfield raised nearly $48m, the ninth-most of any Senate candidate in the 2020 cycle. Ms Ernst pulled in $24m to help fend off the onslaught of ads run by Ms Greenfield’s campaign.