<p>Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) is projected to defeat Republican Adam Laxalt, putting an end to a nail-biter of a race and ensuring Democrats will maintain their Senate majority.</p> <p>Cortez Masto, the nation’s first elected Latina senator who won her first election in 2016 by just over 2 points, fended off a competitive bid from Laxalt, the former state attorney general, who was endorsed by former President Trump. The Silver State was considered one of Republicans’ best pickup opportunities in the Senate, especially as a slew of polls showed Laxalt and Cortez Masto polling within the margin of error.</p>