[MUSIC PLAYING]
COY WIRE: Hello, everyone.
Wonder-full Wednesday to you.
I know we're just halfway through the week,
but we're going to keep on grinding and shining
because that's just what we do.
I'm Coy.
This is "CNN 10," and we've got a rendezvous with the news.
Yesterday was election day in America.
Millions of adults all across the country went to the polls
to cast their votes for representatives
in Congress, senators, and state and local officials.
The results were still coming in when we produced this show.
For the latest info, check out cnn.com where results
are updated in real time.
But between early voting, which shattered
state records in Georgia, and absentee ballots
and the sheer volume of votes on election day,
it could be a while before we know who the winners are.
All eyes are on the results in Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia,
and Pennsylvania-- battleground states that Biden flipped
to Democratic states in the 2020 presidential election,
but now Republicans are hoping to gain control there.
Experts say the 2022 midterm results could foreshadow
the 2024 presidential contest.
Polls indicate that most voters rank the economy as the number
one issue on their minds.
But women's rights, guns, and public safety, as well as
immigration and election security,
are also major issues that are important to voters
in this election.
Let's hear now from Chief National Correspondent John
King in the Election Center, who explains
the early signs he's looking for as election results come in.
DANA BASH: Let's start in the House.
JOHN KING: 435 races in all--
new lines because of the census two years
ago, the redistricting process.
As you know better than anybody, they're not all competitive.
So what we've done is we've identified, working
with our partners at Inside Elections, 82 competitive seats
heading into election day.
And as you can see, they are coast to coast.
Another way to look at it-- look at this, just to understand,
Democrats are on defense.
It's a Democratic president's first midterm.
It's a tough climate.
Just look down here at the key.
Of these seats, 57 of the competitive seats
have Democratic incumbents-- almost three times as many.
Almost three times as many of Republicans--
there are three new seats here, too, as you look at the map.
So Democrats are on their heels, defending much
more territory in a tough year.
That's one way to look at it.
Now let's bring it up.
The big question is, who can get to 218?
And in our rankings right now, we already have Republicans
favored in 216 seats.
Now, some of those are just barely favored.
You see the lighter red on the map.
But Republicans have a huge advantage
going into election day.
And if you look down-- and you know the races very well--
these toss-up races go coast to coast.
DANA BASH: Let's look at the Senate.
Obviously right now-- 50/50.
It could go so many different ways.
JOHN KING: The chess game here, you can game it
out reasonably--
Democrats winning here, Republicans winning there.
But 35 elections in all-- again, we've worked with our partners
here to identify the competitive seats.
Eight elections of the Senate, we view as competitive.
It could be more.
Republicans think they could surprise us in some places.
Of these eight, they're evenly divided now
between held by Democrats or held by Republicans.
Best way to look at this is to come in to the Balance of Power
as you come into the control right now.
Again, Democrats enter the election 50/50.
The vice president of the United States breaks the ties.
So Democrats can't afford to lose, essentially.
And so you have the states on the map.
If you come in now to how we rank them,
the gold are the toss-up states.
One is a Republican held state right now, no incumbent--
Pennsylvania.
Democratic incumbent in Georgia--
they're probably the most vulnerable
Democratic incumbent.
You were just out there in Nevada.
This is where the chess gets fascinating.
DANA BASH: Yeah.
And so many-- I mean, you're saying that these yellow
are maybe the tightest.
But that might belie what we're actually
seeing on the ground, which is a wider swath
of really, really tight races. JOHN KING: Right.
It is possible.
Again, we know these races are competitive.
But we still tilt New Hampshire Democratic.
Republicans think they can pick up that seat.
We still tilt Arizona Democratic.
Republicans think that one is within their reach.
They say, watch, we still have this as likely Dem up in
Washington State, in Colorado.
Republicans say keep an eye on everything.
So you conceivably could get Republicans to 52 or 53.
You can also get the Democrats to 51 or stay status quo at 50.
Again, this race could decide the Senate in the end.
Does anybody get above 50, or are we going another month?
DANA BASH: Or are we going to be standing here in December?
JOHN KING: On December 6.
But you were just out here.
This is what Democrats worry about most.
They view Catherine Cortez Masto as the most
vulnerable Democrat.
And again, think about the math.
We won't know that one because it's out West.
The Democrats would love to pick up Pennsylvania
as a safety valve, an insurance policy against maybe
losing out in Nevada.
DANA BASH: It is going to be a long and very exciting night.
JOHN KING: Week.
DANA BASH: Maybe week.
John King, thank you.
JOHN KING: Thank you.
COY WIRE: trivia-- in what sport would you find a gulley,
sweeper, and a wicket keeper--
curling, Bowling, cricket, or lacrosse?
The answer here is cricket, in which
the only fielder allowed to wear gloves
is called the wicket keeper.
Our next story involves the sport of cricket,
but it's about so much more than the intricacies of the game.
It showcases a much broader dynamic of sports
and highlights the importance of camaraderie,
lifting each other up, and setting aside
differences to work together towards something
greater than ourselves.
Steffan Nero is visually impaired.
He struggled to fit in.
But his life changed when he found his squad.
And he's gone on to shatter records.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
STEFFAN NERO: Sport is, for me, is such a big part of my life.
I can't really understate it, to be honest.
I never really connected with other people my age,
regarding just obviously other people
who didn't have the same obviously sight
condition as me.
I usually felt quite lonely in high school.
Sport, I would say, really changed my life
and really pushed me to realize that I
do have a lot of potential.
I would say I flourished in a way.
I became much more confident in myself.
Part of a family-- you're part of a group.
You're all dealt with the same experiences.
You all can speak to each other.
And that's something that I really
needed when I was growing up because I think without it,
I would be in a much different situation
without those kinds of experiences.
- Nero reverse-switched that.
Dunn comes in with both and hits the ball.
3 [INAUDIBLE] to 4.
STEFFAN NERO: Once I hit the 200 mark, I was just like, OK,
this is--
I think we can make history here.
When everyone was clapping as well,
it was an amazing feeling to experience and something
I'll never forget for the rest of my life.
Obviously, it wasn't just me.
But it was the team and my coaching staff-- everyone.
My parents-- everyone.
But still, my name was said.
Steffan Nero has made 309, so still a very special moment.
- Watch that, man.
STEFFAN NERO: The majority of people were obviously
very impressed-- started saying, oh, wow,
didn't realize this is a game.
I think it helps to kind of change people's minds
a bit about what disability means as well.
I did hear a few comments saying,
oh, it's just disability cricket,
you know, that kind of thing.
But like I say, a lot of people just making jokes about it
as well, which happens.
That's the way it is on social media.
After a while, I just stopped looking at the comments
and stuff as well and just kind of just ignored it and said,
you know what, this is something that I think is really positive
for blind cricket, for people with disabilities in Australia
as well.
I always say, if you try something, you don't like it,
then that's fine.
At least you tried it.
You've taken that first step.
It probably will be the hardest thing you ever do.
But once it happens and you're involved
in that kind of group and that community,
I think things get much easier.
And it can be quite a really rewarding experience.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
COY WIRE: Today's 10 out of 10 story might cause an uproar,
and I ain't even lying.
The Oklahoma City Zoo needs names for its litter
of African lion cubs.
And it's asking the public to pick them.
Born September 26 at the zoo's lion overlook habitat,
these cute baby lions are the zoo's first in 15 years.
Before the cubs are old enough to be put in public display,
though, they need names.
But before you toss out names like Santa Claws, Emperoar,
or Kitty Purry, you have to cast your vote
on a pre-approved name on a list on the zoo's website.
Shoutout time now-- high-5 and a high-10 to Maclay Middle
School in Tallahassee, Florida.
Hope you all have a happy day.
And remember, happiness isn't some ideal that we have
to chase or find or create.
Happiness is right here, right now, whenever
we choose to embrace it.
Much love and many blessings.
I'm Coy, and this is CNN 10.