Joe Biden hailed “a good day” for democracy after Democrats defied history and outperformed expectations in America’s midterm elections, leaving control of Congress on a knife-edge.

With ballots still being counted, Democrats were hopeful about holding the Senate, though the outcome of the tight races in Arizona and Nevada were still uncertain on Wednesday evening and another key race in Georgia was headed to a runoff. Democrats need to win two of those seats to maintain Senate control.

Republicans, meanwhile, felt they were on course to win the House – but by a much narrower margin than widely predicted.

“We had an election yesterday – it was a good day, I think, for democracy,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “And I think it was a good day for America.”

The president added: “While the press and the pundits are predicting a giant red wave, it didn’t happen … Democrats had a strong night.”

The results of the most hotly contested Senate races were giving many Republicans heartburn. Biden campaigned hard in Pennsylvania, the state of his birth, and was rewarded when John Fetterman, the lieutenant governor who suffered a stroke during the campaign, defeated Mehmet Oz, a celebrity doctor endorsed by Trump.

Joe Biden intends to run in 2024 with announcement 'early next year'

President Biden has indicated that he intends to run for reelection, but also emphasized that “it’s just an intention.” He said during an interview on “60 Minutes” in September that “it remains to be seen” whether it was a “firm decision” to seek reelection.