las vegas<u+2014>nevada democratic leaders basked in victory tuesday evening in las vegas amid a bleaker national picture for the party, celebrating wins in a close senate and congressional race, as well as taking over the state assembly. catherine cortez masto became the first latina elected to the u.s. senate to hold retiring senate minority leader harry reid<u+2019>s seat, while ruben kihuen<u+2014>an immigrant from mexico and long a rising star in state democratic politics<u+2014>won a close congressional race in a district that had been republican for the past few years. speaking prior to donald trump winning the presidency , ms. cortez masto vowed to fight against mr. trump and to try to work to pass comprehensive immigration reform. <u+201c>i think we can all agree this is all a little bittersweet,<u+201d> ms. cortez masto said. she added, <u+201c>if donald trump is the president, i<u+2019>ll tell you this, our government is built on a system of checks and balances and i will promise you this, i will be one hell of a check and balance on him. this is our fight for our future and the america we know it should be and nobody, nobody is going to take that away from us.<u+201d> democrats also celebrated the electoral votes mrs. clinton won in the state and appeared on track to win an additional republican-held congressional seat and possibly control of the state senate. the result indicated a massive victory for the labor union and minority coalition machine built over years in the state by mr. reid, who is retiring. in a speech before supporters, ms. cortez masto also thanked mr. reid, who wasn't present. <u+201c>this democratic victory here in nevada is possible because of him and this is his night too and you should all thank him for that,<u+201d> ms. cortez masto said. mr. kihuen and ms. cortez masto both spoke of their own backgrounds as sending important messages, with ms. cortez masto talking about her great-grandfather who immigrated from italy and grandfather who immigrated from mexico. mr. kihuen spoke of immigrating from mexico with his family and achieving the american dream. <u+201c>don<u+2019>t you think it is about time that our government and the representation of our government mirrors the people that we serve every day,<u+201d> ms. cortez masto said. <u+201c>i am so excited to be the voice at the table for all of us.<u+201d> soon after ms. cortez masto spoke, mr. trump was declared president and many at a democratic party began to openly sob and comfort one another with big hugs. <u+201c>it<u+2019>s bittersweet,<u+201d> said congresswoman dina titus, who easily won re-election. <u+201c>i<u+2019>m very proud nevada delivered. tonight you can say we<u+2019>re a pretty solid blue state.<u+201d> asked why nevada seemed to part with many other swing states, ms. titus credited the democrats<u+2019> ground game in the state. <u+201c>minorities and gays and labor left it all on the field,<u+201d> ms. titus said. write to alexandra berzon at alexandra.berzon@wsj.com
catherine cortez masto wins nevada senate race - wsj
alexandra berzon