Arizona Republican<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-polls-trump-urges-florida-to-halt-vote-recount-hand-races-to-republicans-176929"> Martha McSally conceded defeat </a>in the race for US Senate seat&nbsp;to her Democratic opponent Kyrsten Sinema.

In a hotly contested ballot, Sinema won by taking a slice of Republican voters including women. The Senate seat was vacated by Republican Jeff Flake, a Trump critic.&nbsp;Sinema has become the first woman in Arizona's 106-year-old history to take the US Senate seat.

Sinema will also be the youngest Senator in the 100-member chamber.

"I just called Kyrsten Sinema and congratulated her on becoming Arizona's first female senator after a hard-fought battle," McSally said in a video statement posted on Twitter.

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Congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/kyrstensinema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kyrstensinema</a>. I wish her success. I’m grateful to all those who supported me in this journey. I’m inspired by Arizonans’ spirit and our state’s best days are ahead of us. <a href="https://t.co/tw0uKgi3oO">pic.twitter.com/tw0uKgi3oO</a>
— McSally For Senate (@MarthaMcSally) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarthaMcSally/status/1062144676822577152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The winner, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, 42, thanked&nbsp;Arizonans and said that she would work to see "common humanity and find common ground".&nbsp;Sinema had expanded her lead each of the last four days. On Sunday evening, Sinema held a lead of 38,197 votes, or 1.72 percentage points.

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As long as I’ve served Arizona, I’ve worked to help others see our common humanity &amp; find common ground. That’s the same approach I’ll take to representing our great state in the Senate, where I’ll be an independent voice for all Arizonans. 
 
Thank you, Arizona. Let’s get to work. <a href="https://t.co/iX6u6VQ9bQ">pic.twitter.com/iX6u6VQ9bQ</a>
— Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/kyrstensinema/status/1062147560796614656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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President Trump had earlier raised doubts over the counting process in Arizona as poll officers took to counting ballots.

"Just out - in Arizona, SIGNATURES DON'T MATCH. Electoral corruption," Trump said on Twitter, adding,"Call for a new Election? We must protect our Democracy!"

There are other Senate battles taking place in Florida and&nbsp;Mississippi&nbsp;which have become too close to call.

In Florida, authorities are conducting a recount for the seat held by Democratic Senator Bill Nelson&nbsp;who is fighting against Republican Rick Scott.

The Mississippi&nbsp;Senate race is headed for a run-off between Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy. Mississippi hasn't&nbsp;sent a Democrat to the US Senate since 1982.

As the ballot was being counted, President Trump on Monday urged Florida election officials to end the recount and declare Republican candidates the winners.

"The Florida Election should be called in favour of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!" Trump said on Twitter.

Arizona Republican Martha McSally conceded defeat in the race for US Senate seat to her Democratic opponent Kyrsten Sinema. In a hotly contested ballot, Sinema won by taking a slice of Republican voters including women.

Arizona Republican Martha McSally conceded defeat in the race for US Senate seat to her Democratic opponent Kyrsten Sinema. In a hotly contested ballot, Sinema won by taking a slice of Republican voters including women. The Senate seat was vacated by Republican Jeff Flake, a Trump critic. Sinema has become the first woman in Arizona's 106-year-old history to take the US Senate seat. Sinema will also be the youngest Senator in the 100-member chamber. "I just called Kyrsten Sinema and congratulated her on becoming Arizona's first female senator after a hard-fought battle," McSally said in a video statement posted on Twitter. Congrats to @kyrstensinema. I wish her success. I’m grateful to all those who supported me in this journey. I’m inspired by Arizonans’ spirit and our state’s best days are ahead of us. pic.twitter.com/tw0uKgi3oO — McSally For Senate (@MarthaMcSally) November 13, 2018 × The winner, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, 42, thanked Arizonans and said that she would work to see "common humanity and find common ground". Sinema had expanded her lead each of the last four days. On Sunday evening, Sinema held a lead of 38,197 votes, or 1.72 percentage points. As long as I’ve served Arizona, I’ve worked to help others see our common humanity & find common ground. That’s the same approach I’ll take to representing our great state in the Senate, where I’ll be an independent voice for all Arizonans. Thank you, Arizona. Let’s get to work. pic.twitter.com/iX6u6VQ9bQ — Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) November 13, 2018 × President Trump had earlier raised doubts over the counting process in Arizona as poll officers took to counting ballots. "Just out - in Arizona, SIGNATURES DON'T MATCH. Electoral corruption," Trump said on Twitter, adding,"Call for a new Election? We must protect our Democracy!" There are other Senate battles taking place in Florida and Mississippi which have become too close to call. In Florida, authorities are conducting a recount for the seat held by Democratic Senator Bill Nelson who is fighting against Republican Rick Scott. The Mississippi Senate race is headed for a run-off between Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy. Mississippi hasn't sent a Democrat to the US Senate since 1982. As the ballot was being counted, President Trump on Monday urged Florida election officials to end the recount and declare Republican candidates the winners. "The Florida Election should be called in favour of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!" Trump said on Twitter.

US midterm polls: Republican Martha McSally loses Arizona Senate seat

Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott, whose lead has narrowed in the state's US&nbsp;Senate race, filed more lawsuits against local election officials on Sunday, asking a judge to order police to impound voting machines and ballots when they are not in use.

On Saturday, a machine recount began in the race between Scott and incumbent Democratic US&nbsp;Senator Bill Nelson in one of the most closely watched swing-state contests in last Tuesday's congressional elections.

Each side has accused the other of trying to subvert democracy in an echo of the drama in the 2000 presidential vote recount that unfolded for weeks in Florida.

By the time the US Senate election recount was ordered, Scott's lead had shrunk to 12,500 votes, or 0.15 per cent, below the threshold under which a machine recount is automatically triggered under state law.

Scott's lawsuit on Sunday targeted election supervisors in Democratic-leaning Broward and Palm Beach counties. It asked a judge to issue an emergency injunction for the county sheriffs and Florida Department of Law Enforcement to seize all voting machines, tallying devices and ballots when they are not being used until the end the end of the recount and any related litigation is over.

"The Broward and Palm Beach County Supervisors of Elections has already demonstrated a blatant disregard for Florida's elections laws, making it more important than ever that we continue to do everything possible to prevent fraud and ensure this recount is operated responsibly," Chris Hartline, a spokesman for Scott's campaign, said in a statement.

Scott filed a separate lawsuit late on Saturday against Broward County officials, asking the judge to order that any ballots counted afternoon on Saturday be disregarded, saying that to include them would break state law.

Nelson said in a statement on Saturday that Scott was panicking.

"If Rick Scott wanted to make sure every legal ballot is counted, he would not be suing to try and stop voters from having their legal ballot counted as intended," Nelson said. "He's doing this for the same reason he's been making false and panicked claims about voter fraud - he's worried that when all the votes are counted he'll lose this election."

Nelson has also filed a federal lawsuit asking that provisional and absentee ballots not be rejected because election officials deem that the signatures do not match voters'signatures on file.

A recount was also triggered in the Florida gubernatorial race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum as DeSantis' lead shrank to 33,700 votes, or 0.41 per cent, as of Saturday.

Susan Bucher, the Palm Beach County elections supervisor, told CNN on Sunday that it would be "impossible" for the county to meet the Thursday deadline set for the race recounts.

Georgia lawsuit

In another tight race in Georgia, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams joined the state Democratic Party in a federal lawsuit filed on Sunday against Georgia election officials over provisional and absentee ballots.

Republican Brian Kemp declared victory on Wednesday with a narrow lead that was less than a single percentage point over the 50 per cent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff against Abrams, who would be the first black woman to become a US&nbsp;state governor.

Abrams' lawsuit asked a judge to order election officials to count mail-in ballots even if the oath information was "imperfect or missing," so long as there was enough information to identify the voters, and that the votes of people required to cast provisional ballots because of voter roll errors also be counted.

Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott, whose lead has narrowed in the state's US Senate race, filed more lawsuits against local election officials on Sunday, asking a judge to order police to impound voting machines and ballots when they are not in use.

Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott, whose lead has narrowed in the state's US Senate race, filed more lawsuits against local election officials on Sunday, asking a judge to order police to impound voting machines and ballots when they are not in use. On Saturday, a machine recount began in the race between Scott and incumbent Democratic US Senator Bill Nelson in one of the most closely watched swing-state contests in last Tuesday's congressional elections. Each side has accused the other of trying to subvert democracy in an echo of the drama in the 2000 presidential vote recount that unfolded for weeks in Florida. By the time the US Senate election recount was ordered, Scott's lead had shrunk to 12,500 votes, or 0.15 per cent, below the threshold under which a machine recount is automatically triggered under state law. Scott's lawsuit on Sunday targeted election supervisors in Democratic-leaning Broward and Palm Beach counties. It asked a judge to issue an emergency injunction for the county sheriffs and Florida Department of Law Enforcement to seize all voting machines, tallying devices and ballots when they are not being used until the end the end of the recount and any related litigation is over. "The Broward and Palm Beach County Supervisors of Elections has already demonstrated a blatant disregard for Florida's elections laws, making it more important than ever that we continue to do everything possible to prevent fraud and ensure this recount is operated responsibly," Chris Hartline, a spokesman for Scott's campaign, said in a statement. Scott filed a separate lawsuit late on Saturday against Broward County officials, asking the judge to order that any ballots counted afternoon on Saturday be disregarded, saying that to include them would break state law. Nelson said in a statement on Saturday that Scott was panicking. "If Rick Scott wanted to make sure every legal ballot is counted, he would not be suing to try and stop voters from having their legal ballot counted as intended," Nelson said. "He's doing this for the same reason he's been making false and panicked claims about voter fraud - he's worried that when all the votes are counted he'll lose this election." Nelson has also filed a federal lawsuit asking that provisional and absentee ballots not be rejected because election officials deem that the signatures do not match voters'signatures on file. A recount was also triggered in the Florida gubernatorial race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum as DeSantis' lead shrank to 33,700 votes, or 0.41 per cent, as of Saturday. Susan Bucher, the Palm Beach County elections supervisor, told CNN on Sunday that it would be "impossible" for the county to meet the Thursday deadline set for the race recounts. Georgia lawsuit In another tight race in Georgia, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams joined the state Democratic Party in a federal lawsuit filed on Sunday against Georgia election officials over provisional and absentee ballots. Republican Brian Kemp declared victory on Wednesday with a narrow lead that was less than a single percentage point over the 50 per cent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff against Abrams, who would be the first black woman to become a US state governor. Abrams' lawsuit asked a judge to order election officials to count mail-in ballots even if the oath information was "imperfect or missing," so long as there was enough information to identify the voters, and that the votes of people required to cast provisional ballots because of voter roll errors also be counted.

Florida Republican Scott asks that ballots be guarded in US Senate race recount

Representative Dana Rohrabacher, whose quixotic foreign policy campaigns made him persona non grata in Pakistan and Afghanistan and who became a rare US defender of Vladimir Putin, has lost his seat after 30 years.

The 71-year-old Republican, whose exploits have included grabbing a gun to join Afghanistan's anti-Soviet mujahedin, was projected Saturday to have lost, four days after midterm elections in which Democrats seized the House of Representatives.

Harley Rouda, a Democratic real estate developer, led Rohrabacher by four percentage points in a district in southern California's Orange County, a longtime conservative bastion that gave rise to Republicans Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan but where greater ethnic diversity has contributed to a shift toward Democrats.

After working as a speechwriter to Reagan, Rohrabacher was elected to Congress in 1988 on an aggressively anti-communist platform.

Yet his stern views belied a quintessentially Californian quirkiness as he relished surfing, playing guitar and, well before the issue was mainstream, supported legal marijuana, saying he himself had done "everything but drink the bong water."

Rohrabacher's joy in the limelight caused many colleagues to see him as a rabble-rouser -- but his statements had diplomatic repercussions.

Putin's favourite?

Pakistan lodged protests and street demonstrations broke out after Rohrabacher in 2012 proposed a resolution -- non-binding and with little chance of congressional approval -- calling for the independence of Baluchistan, scene of a long-running separatist insurgency.

Rohrabacher was also refused entry to Afghanistan after infuriating then president Hamid Karzai by calling him corrupt.

Rohrabacher, whose office was decorated with memorabilia from briefly fighting alongside Afghan guerrillas, met in 2001 with the then Taliban foreign minister and later joined the left in opposing US troop increases, seeing Karzai's government as compromised.&nbsp;

More recently, Rohrabacher has been dubbed Putin's favourite congressman. The onetime Cold Warrior has argued that radical Islam, not Russia, has become the biggest global threat and that Putin was an ally.

After Donald Trump's surprise election in 2016, speculation mounted that the new president -- who has also voiced respect for Putin -- would name Rohrabacher as US ambassador. However more traditional policymakers remain in charge.

Rohrabacher said he met Putin, then the deputy mayor of Saint Petersburg on a visit to Washington, in the 1990s and got into a drunken argument over who won the Cold War.

"So we decided to settle it like men do when they've had too much to drink in the pub," Rohrabacher recalled in a radio interview.

They arm-wrestled. And who won? "He put me down in a millisecond," Rohrabacher acknowledged.&nbsp;

Representative Dana Rohrabacher, whose quixotic foreign policy campaigns made him persona non grata in Pakistan and Afghanistan and who became a rare US defender of Vladimir Putin, has lost his seat after 30 years.

Representative Dana Rohrabacher, whose quixotic foreign policy campaigns made him persona non grata in Pakistan and Afghanistan and who became a rare US defender of Vladimir Putin, has lost his seat after 30 years. The 71-year-old Republican, whose exploits have included grabbing a gun to join Afghanistan's anti-Soviet mujahedin, was projected Saturday to have lost, four days after midterm elections in which Democrats seized the House of Representatives. Harley Rouda, a Democratic real estate developer, led Rohrabacher by four percentage points in a district in southern California's Orange County, a longtime conservative bastion that gave rise to Republicans Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan but where greater ethnic diversity has contributed to a shift toward Democrats. After working as a speechwriter to Reagan, Rohrabacher was elected to Congress in 1988 on an aggressively anti-communist platform. Yet his stern views belied a quintessentially Californian quirkiness as he relished surfing, playing guitar and, well before the issue was mainstream, supported legal marijuana, saying he himself had done "everything but drink the bong water." Rohrabacher's joy in the limelight caused many colleagues to see him as a rabble-rouser -- but his statements had diplomatic repercussions. Putin's favourite? Pakistan lodged protests and street demonstrations broke out after Rohrabacher in 2012 proposed a resolution -- non-binding and with little chance of congressional approval -- calling for the independence of Baluchistan, scene of a long-running separatist insurgency. Rohrabacher was also refused entry to Afghanistan after infuriating then president Hamid Karzai by calling him corrupt. Rohrabacher, whose office was decorated with memorabilia from briefly fighting alongside Afghan guerrillas, met in 2001 with the then Taliban foreign minister and later joined the left in opposing US troop increases, seeing Karzai's government as compromised. More recently, Rohrabacher has been dubbed Putin's favourite congressman. The onetime Cold Warrior has argued that radical Islam, not Russia, has become the biggest global threat and that Putin was an ally. After Donald Trump's surprise election in 2016, speculation mounted that the new president -- who has also voiced respect for Putin -- would name Rohrabacher as US ambassador. However more traditional policymakers remain in charge. Rohrabacher said he met Putin, then the deputy mayor of Saint Petersburg on a visit to Washington, in the 1990s and got into a drunken argument over who won the Cold War. "So we decided to settle it like men do when they've had too much to drink in the pub," Rohrabacher recalled in a radio interview. They arm-wrestled. And who won? "He put me down in a millisecond," Rohrabacher acknowledged.

US midterm: Dana Rohrabacher, quirky congressman fond of Putin, loses seat

Even as online platforms tightened rules for political ads, digital spending set new records in the 2018 US midterm elections and appears poised for further growth in 2020.

Digital media campaign spending rose 2,400 per cent from the 2014 midterms to $1.8 billion, roughly 20 per cent of the total $8.9 billion in ad spending, according to preliminary estimates from the research firm Borrell Associates.

Online spending, much of it on social networks like Facebook, has been a significant factor in campaigns for a decade, but tighter rules imposed by digital giants in the wake of the 2016 election could have curbed some of that growth.

Kip Cassino, lead author of the Borrell study, said the online sector kept up a strong growth pace despite new guidelines from Facebook, Twitter and others requiring verification of advertisers to address concerns about foreign influence campaigns.

Digital has some unique advantages over traditional media like television, notably the ability to send out messages quickly and targeted to specific groups of voters.

"They can take advantage of an opportunity very quickly, within seconds," Borrell said. "You can't do that with legacy media."

Additionally, campaigns can finely target voters by geography, age, affiliation and interests, based on data gleaned by online firms.

"You can focus your messages to those people who are going to vote for your or those you want to vote for you," Cassino said.

"You don't want to waste your money on those who don't want to listen to you."

Privacy changes ahead?

It remains unclear, however, what if any new privacy rules may come into effect before the 2020 election. Any regulations similar to those imposed in Europe could in theory limit campaigns' ability to target ads without consent from users.

"I would be surprised if (tough ad targeting regulations) happen with this administration," said Michelle Amazeen, a Boston University professor specializing in political communication.

Amazeen said campaigns this year were able to use finely targeted ads, including many "attack ads," whose source was not clearly identified -- in some cases seeking to get press attention from "sensational" or inaccurate claims.

"There are certain loopholes where people can run ads and there's no real confirmation of whether that individual or group is who they say they are," Amazeen said.

She added that Facebook's decision to keep these ads without better disclosure "suggests they are not really concerned about protecting the integrity of the election."

Facebook's political ad report showed $353 million spend by campaigns on its platform since May, with unsuccessful Texas Democratic Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke the largest spender with $7.1 million, followed by Donald Trump's campaign committee with $3.4 million.

Embracing digital

While many candidates embraced digital, some strategists say other office seekers failed to take advantage of cost-effective online ads.

Broadcast TV still made up nearly 40 per cent of all campaign spending and cable TV for 12 per cent.

Amazeen said television remains a key medium because of a large body of research showing its effectiveness, and because older voters are less reachable on online platforms.

According to Cassino, Democrats outspent Republicans three-to-one on digital, but some analysts say much of that was in fundraising and not to help get the vote out.

Mark Jablonowski, managing partner at DS Political, a digital targeting consultancy for Democrats and progressive candidates, said Republicans were well-organized early in the campaign on digital, forcing Democrats to catch up with a late online surge.

"We did not see the growth in digital ad spending we were expecting" from Democrats, Jablonowksi said.&nbsp;

Even with candidates like O'Rourke, he said, "almost all of that (digital) spending was to raise more money, not for persuasion."

Jablonowski said it will be increasingly important in 2020 to direct more ad dollars to digital to reach younger voters.

"You want to be where the eyeballs are, and more people are cancelling their cable television subscriptions, don't have landline telephones," he said.

"There's a whole universe of people not reachable by television."

Some analysts say even old technology, like text messaging, were effective tools in 2018.

Roddy Lindsay, co-founder and chief of the smartphone organizing group Hustle, said activists for Democrats and progressives sent out more than 200 million text messages, calling it an important element in driving turnout.

Although text messages have been used for decades, organizers were able to use targeted campaigns to deliver "peer to peer" messages to young voters who might not be reached by traditional media.

"This was one of the breakout tools of the 2018 election cycle," Lindsay said.

"We know the youth voter turnout made the difference."

Even as online platforms tightened rules for political ads, digital spending set new records in the 2018 US midterm elections and appears poised for further growth in 2020.

Even as online platforms tightened rules for political ads, digital spending set new records in the 2018 US midterm elections and appears poised for further growth in 2020. Digital media campaign spending rose 2,400 per cent from the 2014 midterms to $1.8 billion, roughly 20 per cent of the total $8.9 billion in ad spending, according to preliminary estimates from the research firm Borrell Associates. Online spending, much of it on social networks like Facebook, has been a significant factor in campaigns for a decade, but tighter rules imposed by digital giants in the wake of the 2016 election could have curbed some of that growth. Kip Cassino, lead author of the Borrell study, said the online sector kept up a strong growth pace despite new guidelines from Facebook, Twitter and others requiring verification of advertisers to address concerns about foreign influence campaigns. Digital has some unique advantages over traditional media like television, notably the ability to send out messages quickly and targeted to specific groups of voters. "They can take advantage of an opportunity very quickly, within seconds," Borrell said. "You can't do that with legacy media." Additionally, campaigns can finely target voters by geography, age, affiliation and interests, based on data gleaned by online firms. "You can focus your messages to those people who are going to vote for your or those you want to vote for you," Cassino said. "You don't want to waste your money on those who don't want to listen to you." Privacy changes ahead? It remains unclear, however, what if any new privacy rules may come into effect before the 2020 election. Any regulations similar to those imposed in Europe could in theory limit campaigns' ability to target ads without consent from users. "I would be surprised if (tough ad targeting regulations) happen with this administration," said Michelle Amazeen, a Boston University professor specializing in political communication. Amazeen said campaigns this year were able to use finely targeted ads, including many "attack ads," whose source was not clearly identified -- in some cases seeking to get press attention from "sensational" or inaccurate claims. "There are certain loopholes where people can run ads and there's no real confirmation of whether that individual or group is who they say they are," Amazeen said. She added that Facebook's decision to keep these ads without better disclosure "suggests they are not really concerned about protecting the integrity of the election." Facebook's political ad report showed $353 million spend by campaigns on its platform since May, with unsuccessful Texas Democratic Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke the largest spender with $7.1 million, followed by Donald Trump's campaign committee with $3.4 million. Embracing digital While many candidates embraced digital, some strategists say other office seekers failed to take advantage of cost-effective online ads. Broadcast TV still made up nearly 40 per cent of all campaign spending and cable TV for 12 per cent. Amazeen said television remains a key medium because of a large body of research showing its effectiveness, and because older voters are less reachable on online platforms. According to Cassino, Democrats outspent Republicans three-to-one on digital, but some analysts say much of that was in fundraising and not to help get the vote out. Mark Jablonowski, managing partner at DS Political, a digital targeting consultancy for Democrats and progressive candidates, said Republicans were well-organized early in the campaign on digital, forcing Democrats to catch up with a late online surge. "We did not see the growth in digital ad spending we were expecting" from Democrats, Jablonowksi said. Even with candidates like O'Rourke, he said, "almost all of that (digital) spending was to raise more money, not for persuasion." Jablonowski said it will be increasingly important in 2020 to direct more ad dollars to digital to reach younger voters. "You want to be where the eyeballs are, and more people are cancelling their cable television subscriptions, don't have landline telephones," he said. "There's a whole universe of people not reachable by television." Some analysts say even old technology, like text messaging, were effective tools in 2018. Roddy Lindsay, co-founder and chief of the smartphone organizing group Hustle, said activists for Democrats and progressives sent out more than 200 million text messages, calling it an important element in driving turnout. Although text messages have been used for decades, organizers were able to use targeted campaigns to deliver "peer to peer" messages to young voters who might not be reached by traditional media. "This was one of the breakout tools of the 2018 election cycle," Lindsay said. "We know the youth voter turnout made the difference."

Despite restrictions, digital spending hits record in US midterms

Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-dig-in-for-florida-recount-battle-trump-sends-lawyers-176552">statewide recount</a> in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates -- plunging the state once again into election uncertainty.

Eighteen years after the Sunshine State found itself at the heart of a battle for the US presidency, it was once again in the spotlight after Tuesday's vote, which left the contests for statewide offices undecided.

Florida's 67 counties had been given until midday (1700 GMT) on Saturday to submit unofficial totals.

State law triggers a machine recount if the difference in a race is within 0.5 percent. Florida's secretary of state Ken Detzner issued the official order for the recounts after the deadline.

After the cut-off, the Senate race between outgoing Republican governor Rick Scott and incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson was extremely close: Scott's lead stood at just 12,562 votes out of nearly 8.2 million cast, a margin of just 0.15 percent.

In the governor's race, the latest unofficial results on the Florida division of elections website show Republican Ron DeSantis, who was backed by Donald Trump, leading Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum by just 33,684 votes out of more than 8.2 million cast, or a margin of 0.41 percent.

"Machine recount indicated," the website said in both cases.

Gillum -- who had previously conceded the race -- changed course on Saturday, saying: "I am replacing my words of concession with an uncompromised and unapologetic call that we count every single vote."

In a statement, Detzner said the results of the machine recount would be due on November 15 at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT).

Trump was not amused by the development, tweeting from France: "Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!"

Lawsuits 
With Florida's developments raising partisan tensions to fresh highs, Trump on Friday alleged a major corruption scandal was brewing.

"What's going on in Florida is a disgrace," Trump told reporters.

"Bad things are going on in Broward Country, really bad things," Trump added, referring to a Democrat-heavy county where officials were slowly counting votes including absentee and provisional ballots.

Scott filed lawsuits against Broward and Palm Beach counties alleging fraud after his lead narrowed.

On Saturday, he urged Florida's sheriffs to "watch for any violations during the recount process as outlined in Florida law."

Meanwhile, Nelson -- accusing Scott of trying to suppress votes -- fired back with a lawsuit of his own to block steps that would reject thousands of mail-in ballots.

The recount is reminiscent of the dramatic recounts that occurred in parts of Florida after the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

Those recounts were halted by the US Supreme Court, and Bush defeated Gore by 537 votes in Florida to win the presidency. Broward County was also at the heart of that controversy.

Most US political races have already been settled. But Florida is not alone.

In neighboring Georgia, the Democratic candidate for governor initiated legal action to ensure all votes were counted in her contest.

In Arizona, there is still no official result in a fierce US Senate battle that has Democrat Kyrsten Sinema leading Republican Martha McSally by a slim margin.

The ballot chaos raises fresh questions about why the world's most powerful democracy is incapable of producing swift and accurate election results across all 50 states.

Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a statewide recount in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates -- plunging the state once again into election uncertainty.

Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a statewide recount in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates -- plunging the state once again into election uncertainty. Eighteen years after the Sunshine State found itself at the heart of a battle for the US presidency, it was once again in the spotlight after Tuesday's vote, which left the contests for statewide offices undecided. Florida's 67 counties had been given until midday (1700 GMT) on Saturday to submit unofficial totals. State law triggers a machine recount if the difference in a race is within 0.5 percent. Florida's secretary of state Ken Detzner issued the official order for the recounts after the deadline. After the cut-off, the Senate race between outgoing Republican governor Rick Scott and incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson was extremely close: Scott's lead stood at just 12,562 votes out of nearly 8.2 million cast, a margin of just 0.15 percent. In the governor's race, the latest unofficial results on the Florida division of elections website show Republican Ron DeSantis, who was backed by Donald Trump, leading Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum by just 33,684 votes out of more than 8.2 million cast, or a margin of 0.41 percent. "Machine recount indicated," the website said in both cases. Gillum -- who had previously conceded the race -- changed course on Saturday, saying: "I am replacing my words of concession with an uncompromised and unapologetic call that we count every single vote." In a statement, Detzner said the results of the machine recount would be due on November 15 at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT). Trump was not amused by the development, tweeting from France: "Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!" Lawsuits With Florida's developments raising partisan tensions to fresh highs, Trump on Friday alleged a major corruption scandal was brewing. "What's going on in Florida is a disgrace," Trump told reporters. "Bad things are going on in Broward Country, really bad things," Trump added, referring to a Democrat-heavy county where officials were slowly counting votes including absentee and provisional ballots. Scott filed lawsuits against Broward and Palm Beach counties alleging fraud after his lead narrowed. On Saturday, he urged Florida's sheriffs to "watch for any violations during the recount process as outlined in Florida law." Meanwhile, Nelson -- accusing Scott of trying to suppress votes -- fired back with a lawsuit of his own to block steps that would reject thousands of mail-in ballots. The recount is reminiscent of the dramatic recounts that occurred in parts of Florida after the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Those recounts were halted by the US Supreme Court, and Bush defeated Gore by 537 votes in Florida to win the presidency. Broward County was also at the heart of that controversy. Most US political races have already been settled. But Florida is not alone. In neighboring Georgia, the Democratic candidate for governor initiated legal action to ensure all votes were counted in her contest. In Arizona, there is still no official result in a fierce US Senate battle that has Democrat Kyrsten Sinema leading Republican Martha McSally by a slim margin. The ballot chaos raises fresh questions about why the world's most powerful democracy is incapable of producing swift and accurate election results across all 50 states.

US midterms: After Florida orders recount, Democratic candidate recalls concession from Governor's race

Record number of women elected to the House

Scandal-hit Democrat Menendez re-elected to Senate: US networks

Dem Jennifer Wexton wins Virginia 10th district House seat

Vermont's Bernie Sanders has cruised to <a href="Big turnout as America votes in test of Trump presidency">re-election</a> for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates.

Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election.

Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006.

The Republican candidate, Lawrence Zupan, a Manchester real estate broker with experience in international trade, campaigned against what he felt was big government and social welfare programs. But his candidacy never gained traction and his campaign drew little attention.

Rather than focusing on his re-election, Sanders travelled the country to support Democratic candidates and an array of policy issues.

Meanwhile, Beyonce endorsed Texas Democratic Senate hopeful Beto O'Rourke over Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in the final hours before her home <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-us-midterm-polls-how-they-work-and-what-is-at-stakes-175277">state's polls</a> close.

The native Houstonian released a series of Instagram posts with a black and white "Beto" cap partially covering her face on Tuesday afternoon. O'Rourke himself then retweeted one of the pictures under the caption "Thank you, Beyonce."

An El Paso congressman, O'Rourke is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since 1994. He's drawn the admiration of many celebrities, including Texas country music icon Willie Nelson.

Cruz dismisses his opponent's upset-minded campaign as too liberal for Texas since O'Rourke supports universal health care and impeaching President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

Vermont's Bernie Sanders has cruised to re-election for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates. Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election.

Vermont's Bernie Sanders has cruised to re-election for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates. Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election. Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006. The Republican candidate, Lawrence Zupan, a Manchester real estate broker with experience in international trade, campaigned against what he felt was big government and social welfare programs. But his candidacy never gained traction and his campaign drew little attention. Rather than focusing on his re-election, Sanders travelled the country to support Democratic candidates and an array of policy issues. Meanwhile, Beyonce endorsed Texas Democratic Senate hopeful Beto O'Rourke over Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in the final hours before her home state's polls close. The native Houstonian released a series of Instagram posts with a black and white "Beto" cap partially covering her face on Tuesday afternoon. O'Rourke himself then retweeted one of the pictures under the caption "Thank you, Beyonce." An El Paso congressman, O'Rourke is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since 1994. He's drawn the admiration of many celebrities, including Texas country music icon Willie Nelson. Cruz dismisses his opponent's upset-minded campaign as too liberal for Texas since O'Rourke supports universal health care and impeaching President Donald Trump.

Vermont's Bernie Sanders cruises to 3rd Senate term

Democrats claimed their first pick-up of the midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/control-of-congress-and-verdict-on-trump-at-stake-in-us-elections-175905">US House seat</a> in Virginia seen as crucial to their effort to regain a majority in the chamber.

With nearly two thirds of ballots counted, Democratic state lawmaker Jennifer Wexton was ahead of Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock by 57 per cent to 43 per cent in their suburban northern Virginia district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016, NBC reported.

Democrats must gain 23 seats in the 435-member House of Representatives to regain control of the chamber, which is currently led by President Donald Trump's Republicans.&nbsp;

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Vermont's<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vermonts-bernie-sanders-cruises-to-3rd-senate-term-175924"> Bernie Sanders </a>has cruised to re-election for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates.

Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election.

Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006.

Democrats claimed their first pick-up of the midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping a US House seat in Virginia seen as crucial to their effort to regain a majority in the chamber.

Democrats claimed their first pick-up of the midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping a US House seat in Virginia seen as crucial to their effort to regain a majority in the chamber. With nearly two thirds of ballots counted, Democratic state lawmaker Jennifer Wexton was ahead of Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock by 57 per cent to 43 per cent in their suburban northern Virginia district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016, NBC reported. Democrats must gain 23 seats in the 435-member House of Representatives to regain control of the chamber, which is currently led by President Donald Trump's Republicans. Meanwhile, Vermont's Bernie Sanders has cruised to re-election for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates. Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election. Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006.

Democrats get first House pick-up of midterms: US networks

Republicans' loss of control of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives will leave the party with a more conservative congressional caucus that is even more bound to President Donald Trump and more united around his provocative rhetoric and hardline agenda.

Although moderate Republicans who remain in the House may view the result as an indictment of Trump's strategy of focusing relentlessly on illegal immigration in the final stretch of the campaign, they will be a small minority.

Major US&nbsp;TV networks projected Democrats would take control of the House while Republicans would retain the majority in the Senate.

Many Republicans who lost their seats were moderating from suburban-heavy districts who tried to keep some distance from Trump and his rhetoric, but lost anyway. That leaves a shrunken core dominated by conservatives from rural areas whose constituents overwhelmingly support Trump.

In short, Trump will stay Trump. Although some Republicans may blame him for Tuesday's losses, they are unlikely to be emboldened to rebel, especially given that the party kept control of the Senate.

Over the past two years, the president has shown little inclination to change his slash-and-burn style or turn conciliatory. He knows that he remains without question the most popular figure in his party.

Now, Trump begins his run for re-election in earnest, where he will make every effort to galvanize his base of passionate supporters.

That means that even in the face of stronger Democratic opposition, Trump is likely to advocate for his "America First" agenda that prioritizes hot-button issues, such as illegal immigration and trade protectionism. This, in turn, will accelerate his dramatic reshaping of a party that for decades was defined by fiscal, social and national security conservatism.

Knowing that House Democrats will not approve funding for a wall along the US&nbsp;border, for example, will not keep Trump from continuing to make it an issue. In fact, he may find it more politically effective to have House Democrats as a foil.

The surviving Republican members in the House, too, will have little interest in cooperating with the new Democratic majority, leaving Republican congressional power focused in the Senate and the government largely gridlocked.

“A Democratic House means that if the president wants to get things done, he’s going to have to work across the aisle," said Jason McGrath, a Democratic pollster in Chicago. "He hasn’t shown any inclination to do that, but it will be interesting to see if this is a moment he will want to govern rather than just make points.”

Suburban shift

The shift has long-term implications for Republicans in districts that flipped Democratic on Tuesday and gives Democrats an opportunity to build on gains in once-reliably Republican suburbs where education levels and incomes are above the national average - and where skepticism of Trump runs deep.

The party already faced challenges in trying to grow beyond its base of middle-class Trump supporters, white men, and evangelicals. It has lost ground among women, suburban voters, voters with college degrees, while showing little ability to win over young and minority voters.

That will almost certainly continue if a shrinking congressional caucus paves the way for greater fealty to Trump.

In the Senate, centrist Democrats from states that Trump won in 2016 such as Joe Donnelly in Indiana and Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota were replaced by conservative Republicans who may credit their victories to the president.

Moreover, Trump’s fiercest Republican critics in the Senate, Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, are retiring. So is Paul Ryan, the Republican speaker of the House who at times differed with the president’s tone, if not his policies.

All of it leaves Trump a more dominant force in the party than he was even two years ago. And Trump, who campaigned heavily in rural states, can point to those Senate wins as evidence he can still drive his voters to the polls.

Low expectations

All year, Republicans have been clear-eyed about their potential losses in the House, and so likely will not view Tuesday's result as a warning sign the party needs to change its ways.

Historically, the party in power loses several seats during the first midterm election of a new president, particularly if his national job approval ratings are low.

Democrats lost 63 seats in 2010 with Barack Obama in the White House, handing control to the Republicans, who brought Obama’s agenda largely to a halt.

In the closing weeks of the election, Trump stoked fears over a caravan of migrants approaching the United States from Central America and warned of the threat from liberal “mobs” if Democrats won power, trying to stoke his base to the polls.

Several Republican candidates and advocacy groups such as the Congressional Leadership Fund joined in, concluding that the party’s economic message was not resonating. In two years, should economic growth slow, the party may not even have that argument.

With Congress expected to produce little in the way of meaningful legislation in coming months, Republican candidates in the next election cycle are likely to have few accomplishments to point to. A 2017 tax-cut law will be a distant memory.

Those Republican candidates who run for office with Trump at the top of the ticket will have a difficult time establishing their own political identities – and they may not want to, as US&nbsp;presidents by and large win their second terms.

Republicans' loss of control of the US House of Representatives will leave the party with a more conservative congressional caucus that is even more bound to President Donald Trump and more united around his provocative rhetoric and hardline agenda.

Republicans' loss of control of the US House of Representatives will leave the party with a more conservative congressional caucus that is even more bound to President Donald Trump and more united around his provocative rhetoric and hardline agenda. Although moderate Republicans who remain in the House may view the result as an indictment of Trump's strategy of focusing relentlessly on illegal immigration in the final stretch of the campaign, they will be a small minority. Major US TV networks projected Democrats would take control of the House while Republicans would retain the majority in the Senate. Many Republicans who lost their seats were moderating from suburban-heavy districts who tried to keep some distance from Trump and his rhetoric, but lost anyway. That leaves a shrunken core dominated by conservatives from rural areas whose constituents overwhelmingly support Trump. In short, Trump will stay Trump. Although some Republicans may blame him for Tuesday's losses, they are unlikely to be emboldened to rebel, especially given that the party kept control of the Senate. Over the past two years, the president has shown little inclination to change his slash-and-burn style or turn conciliatory. He knows that he remains without question the most popular figure in his party. Now, Trump begins his run for re-election in earnest, where he will make every effort to galvanize his base of passionate supporters. That means that even in the face of stronger Democratic opposition, Trump is likely to advocate for his "America First" agenda that prioritizes hot-button issues, such as illegal immigration and trade protectionism. This, in turn, will accelerate his dramatic reshaping of a party that for decades was defined by fiscal, social and national security conservatism. Knowing that House Democrats will not approve funding for a wall along the US border, for example, will not keep Trump from continuing to make it an issue. In fact, he may find it more politically effective to have House Democrats as a foil. The surviving Republican members in the House, too, will have little interest in cooperating with the new Democratic majority, leaving Republican congressional power focused in the Senate and the government largely gridlocked. “A Democratic House means that if the president wants to get things done, he’s going to have to work across the aisle," said Jason McGrath, a Democratic pollster in Chicago. "He hasn’t shown any inclination to do that, but it will be interesting to see if this is a moment he will want to govern rather than just make points.” Suburban shift The shift has long-term implications for Republicans in districts that flipped Democratic on Tuesday and gives Democrats an opportunity to build on gains in once-reliably Republican suburbs where education levels and incomes are above the national average - and where skepticism of Trump runs deep. The party already faced challenges in trying to grow beyond its base of middle-class Trump supporters, white men, and evangelicals. It has lost ground among women, suburban voters, voters with college degrees, while showing little ability to win over young and minority voters. That will almost certainly continue if a shrinking congressional caucus paves the way for greater fealty to Trump. In the Senate, centrist Democrats from states that Trump won in 2016 such as Joe Donnelly in Indiana and Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota were replaced by conservative Republicans who may credit their victories to the president. Moreover, Trump’s fiercest Republican critics in the Senate, Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, are retiring. So is Paul Ryan, the Republican speaker of the House who at times differed with the president’s tone, if not his policies. All of it leaves Trump a more dominant force in the party than he was even two years ago. And Trump, who campaigned heavily in rural states, can point to those Senate wins as evidence he can still drive his voters to the polls. Low expectations All year, Republicans have been clear-eyed about their potential losses in the House, and so likely will not view Tuesday's result as a warning sign the party needs to change its ways. Historically, the party in power loses several seats during the first midterm election of a new president, particularly if his national job approval ratings are low. Democrats lost 63 seats in 2010 with Barack Obama in the White House, handing control to the Republicans, who brought Obama’s agenda largely to a halt. In the closing weeks of the election, Trump stoked fears over a caravan of migrants approaching the United States from Central America and warned of the threat from liberal “mobs” if Democrats won power, trying to stoke his base to the polls. Several Republican candidates and advocacy groups such as the Congressional Leadership Fund joined in, concluding that the party’s economic message was not resonating. In two years, should economic growth slow, the party may not even have that argument. With Congress expected to produce little in the way of meaningful legislation in coming months, Republican candidates in the next election cycle are likely to have few accomplishments to point to. A 2017 tax-cut law will be a distant memory. Those Republican candidates who run for office with Trump at the top of the ticket will have a difficult time establishing their own political identities – and they may not want to, as US presidents by and large win their second terms.

Loss of US House leaves Republicans more tied to Trump than ever: Report

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that accusations of Russian interference in US midterm elections were "empty statements," as voters cast their ballots in the most crucial election.

US law enforcement and intelligence agencies cautioned voters on the eve of US midterm that Americans should be wary of Russian attempts to spread fake news.

The announcement came days after a new study found that misinformation on social media was spreading at a greater rate than during the run-up to the 2016 presidential vote, which Russia is accused of manipulating through a vast propaganda campaign in favour of Donald Trump, the eventual winner.

"Americans should be aware that foreign actors -- and Russia in particular -- continue to try to influence public sentiment and voter perceptions through actions intended to sow discord," a joint statement by Department of Homeland Seucrity Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Attorney General Jeff Session, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and FBI director Christopher Wray said.&nbsp;

"They can do this by spreading false information about political processes and candidates, lying about their own interference activities, disseminating propaganda on social media, and through other tactics. The American public can mitigate these efforts by remaining informed, reporting suspicious activity and being vigilant consumers of information," the statement added.

Americans started voting Tuesday in critical midterm elections that mark the first major voter test of Donald Trump's presidency, with control of Congress at stake.

As polling stations opened at 6:00 am (1100 GMT) on the East Coast, Republicans were keenly aware that losing their majority will hamstring his divisive, nativist political agenda over the next two years.

At stake are all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate, 36 governor's posts and seats in state legislatures across the country.

(With inputs from news agencies)

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that accusations of Russian interference in US midterm elections were "empty statements," as voters cast their ballots in the most crucial election.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that accusations of Russian interference in US midterm elections were "empty statements," as voters cast their ballots in the most crucial election. US law enforcement and intelligence agencies cautioned voters on the eve of US midterm that Americans should be wary of Russian attempts to spread fake news. The announcement came days after a new study found that misinformation on social media was spreading at a greater rate than during the run-up to the 2016 presidential vote, which Russia is accused of manipulating through a vast propaganda campaign in favour of Donald Trump, the eventual winner. "Americans should be aware that foreign actors -- and Russia in particular -- continue to try to influence public sentiment and voter perceptions through actions intended to sow discord," a joint statement by Department of Homeland Seucrity Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Attorney General Jeff Session, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and FBI director Christopher Wray said. "They can do this by spreading false information about political processes and candidates, lying about their own interference activities, disseminating propaganda on social media, and through other tactics. The American public can mitigate these efforts by remaining informed, reporting suspicious activity and being vigilant consumers of information," the statement added. Americans started voting Tuesday in critical midterm elections that mark the first major voter test of Donald Trump's presidency, with control of Congress at stake. As polling stations opened at 6:00 am (1100 GMT) on the East Coast, Republicans were keenly aware that losing their majority will hamstring his divisive, nativist political agenda over the next two years. At stake are all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate, 36 governor's posts and seats in state legislatures across the country. (With inputs from news agencies)

Russia says accusations of US vote interference are 'empty statements'

Americans start voting in midterm verdict on Trump rule