Democrats retain control of the US Senate after Nevada win in major boost for Joe Biden

The Democratic party of the United States have secured control of the  Senate, giving Joe Biden a mid-term boost as he heads into the final two years of his first term as president.

With one seat still in doubt, the Democrats claimed a majority on Sunday, November 13 when Nevada senator Catherine Cortez Masto was re-elected, defeating Republican challenger Adam Laxalt.

The party now has 50 seats in the 100-seat Senate, with the newly elected Senate to be sworn in on January 3, 2023.

While control of the US House of Representatives is still to be decided, and a run-off election will take place to decide who claims one of Georgia's Senate seats, the Democrats have retained a Senate majority by virtue of Vice-President Kamala Harris's tie-breaking vote. 

Speaking to reporters after AP declared Ms Cortez Masto as winner of the Nevada Senate seat, President Biden said he felt good about the election results.

"I'm looking forward to the next couple of years," he said. 

Result to impact judicial appointments
Even though Democrats are unlikely to control the House, a simple majority in the Senate will give the party the ability to approve judges picked by Mr Biden to fill positions on district courts, circuit courts and high courts. 

This will also be crucial to Democrats if a seat on the US Supreme Court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority, opens up in the final years of  Biden's term.

When the outgoing US Senate returns this week, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aims to immediately confirm two more federal judges, awaiting final votes.

House Republicans, if they pull a victory on the House of Representatives, have pledged to end Biden's policies on climate change and want to make permanent a series of 2017 tax cuts.

Republicans have also planned investigations into the activities of the Biden administration and the president's son, Hunter, who has had business dealings with Ukraine and China.

But by retaining a simple Senate majority, Democrats will keep control over committees and investigations, as well as blocking any attempts by a Republican house to impeach Mr Biden.