bench than any senate under any previous president. and we aren't done, we aren't done. the senate majority leader, new york senator chuck schumer, gets tonight's last word. the 11th hour with stephanie ruhle starts now. >> good evening, once again, i'm stephanie ruhle, live at msnbc headquarters here at 30 rockefeller center. it is election night in america, and we got the latest results from some key races we have been watching all night long. let's go straight to the man at the hour, steve kornacki at the big board. steve, there is nothing better than seeing you on election night. give us an update. >> yeah, stephanie, a lot still going on. let's start in mississippi, the governor's race in mississippi, two thirds of the vote at the republican incumbent tate reeves leading pressley by 11 points. two key points here i think if you look at these numbers. number one is, we have been waiting all night for the largest county in the state, and county, the state capital of jackson's, overwhelmingly a democratic county. they just started to report their polls. they had issues with ballot availability. you see 13% counted in hines, and it's 86 to basically 13 for pressley said this is a big for producing county and there are a lot more pressley folks to come from out of here. that's an opportunity for pressley to gain and for reeves to fall. andy west of the state, what we have seen so far, we'd like to see there is a pattern. reeves won this race in 2019 by five points. we use this as a bench part when results come in. especially winning five points better in any given county then in 2019. honestly, there are some counties where he is absolutely doing that, and there are some counties where he has fallen far short of that. for example, madison county, one of the biggest counties in the state, the fourth biggest in the state, now we're close to 60% of the vote counted in madison county. reeves is leading this by 13 in. 2019, the democrats won this county in a governor's race, the first time in three decades that they have done that so reits has been up performing's own performance here in 2019 in a big county. you go to the second biggest county in the state, rankin county, outside of jackson, roughly 80% of people in, reeves has a 24 point advantage. he won this by 26 points in 2019. you have counties where pressley is over performing versus the democratic showing in 2019. he also big counties, where reefs is over performing his own share in 2019, so i think right now if you are the reeves campaign, you're feeling good about what you're seeing. hinds county remains a big wildcard here. how many votes will come out there, and how much would that do for pressley? that brings the wildcard into the equation here, and that is that she dropped out at the race, gwendolyn gray, but she was running as an independent. it was too late to get it off. the rule in mississippi is, it's not just having the most votes at the end of an election night, it's hitting 50% plus one, so one of the possibilities here with hinds county and so much outstanding is that it does raise presley a few points. it does bring reefs down. if it brings reeves down just under 50%, you can still finish ahead of presley by a little bit, but if he is short of 50, then we go to a runoff. the runoff is held three weeks now, so there is the reeves versus pressley race, and in that, reeves is probably feeling it. but there is also reeves versus 50% plus one race, and that might be a little bit more uncertain, again with 70% counted statewide. the other major unfinished piece of business that we have been looking at tonight's virginia, battle for the state legislator, the republican governor glenn youngkin wants to get control of both chambers. start with the state senate, democrats came in tonight controlling 22 to 18. the associated press has not called 20 seats for democrats. they need 21, because 2020, the republican lieutenant governor breaks the tie, but there is a potential 24 seat, where the democrat is leading right now, and what is left to be counted are early votes, our mail votes, democratic friendly votes, so it is a seat that looks very ripe for democrats to take to get them to at least 21. 21 for democrats equals retaining control of the state senate, denying youngkin and republicans the foothold that they were looking for. and on the hasse delicate side, this is the one that the republicans came in tonight leading, 50 to 48 in these current counties, 40 6:40 for the republicans. for the democrats, excuse me. there are a number of seats that have not yet been called, but the democrats, i talked about the state senate see, where it is a similar story, where the democrats look well positioned, i think, to get up to 50 seats, very possible and to exceed 50 is in the picture for democrats here as well. it's a 50/50, and they have to enter the two parties to a power sharing agreement. again, republicans control the chamber now. if this were to end up 50/50, republicans would lose control. democrats would gain it. they would have to share. again, that would be a defeat for republicans, because they would know from controlling it, then having to share, and on the senate side, there is a very clear path for the democrats to win and retain the outright majority there. in terms of what glenn youngkin and republicans were hoping for in virginia, they are coming close, but they may not be close enough. >> all right, steve, stay close, we want to know every single update as we get more numbers in, but right now, let's bring our lead off panel, symone sanders is here, former chief spokesperson for vice president harris, host of symone on peacock and msnbc. michael steele -- former lieutenant governor of maryland and former ohio congressman tim ryan. congressman ryan, a 21st, what is your main takeaway this evening? >> well, a huge night in ohio, stephanie, like a big win. we had steve kornacki break our hearts in ohio more than one time, so it's nice to see him out there with a couple of big ones in ohio on both the abortion bill and the marijuana bill. again, we talked a lot in the past, ohio is a freedom loving state, and today, we got the government out of the lives of women, and we got the government out of people's homes, so allowed them to make their own decision. huge, huge win in ohio. >> symone, president biden posted this on twitter, quote, across the country tonight, democracy won, and maga lost. voters vote. polls don't. he's got a point. >> he does. i like the tweet that you tweeted. polls are, what did you say? >> polls predict, elections proof. >> i think that is what joe biden was trying to say. look, i think it's important that in the lead up to elections like this, especially on election day, that people are talking to the people on the state, on the ground. i made a point to call up a number of people today. what i was hearing is that voters were engaged. we talked a lot about mississippi. in mississippi, in hinds county, that is a county that jackson sits in, the folks on the ground told me that they surpassed 2019 numbers. to be clear, only 72 ballots were cast in 2019, so surpassing 2019 numbers is a big deal. they ran out about this. five times in precincts. in ohio, yet again, every time that abortion has been on the ballot, since the overturning of roe v. wade, voters have overwhelmingly voted to enshrine their rights to make decisions about their own bodies. i think this bodes well, if you are a democrat or a democratic operative looking towards 2024. if you're a democratic governor, or aspiring democratic governor, you have to look at andy beshear, who did not shy away from, i would argue, he did not shy away from the biden agenda. he did not run out there and use fancy branding. he talked about the reproduction facilities -- >> that is from mitch mcconnell 's backyard. michael steele, what do you think tonight? >> well, you know, i am kind of laughing at the gop right now, because apparently, this whole concept of individual liberty has prevented yet another big gop night. at what point do you learned that you are on the wrong side of the argument with the american people. at what point do you begin to understand that the individuals that you are pushing out as the standard bearers for the republican party are not individuals that the country wants? in red state after red state, you are losing. and it states that you have an opportunity to really change and make a difference and set a national narrative. you can't. this is a very instructive night for republicans. i look at the democrats, and i go, you'll need to get a pen and pad. i remind you, my good friend symone has laid out the lesson to be learned by democrats looking at the state of kentucky. i don't know how complicated you want to make this, but don't, okay? run the race. just run d-dimers. you've got a president who has laid out a narrative. you sit, talk about shovel ready jobs. that is the reality, shovel ready jobs. infrastructure, job creation, lower inflation, gas prices coming down, you have the narrative. and in red kentucky, guess what, the democrats who are supposed to announce it, that were supposed to have been, okay, we're down with him, now we return to the maga, they said, no. in ohio, what happened? on abortion, citizens, including republicans, said, no. so the reality of it is, there is a new landscape that is being shaped. both parties understand it better than they currently have, because the voters are setting the table, and it's going to be important going into 2024, whether or not candidates like symone set, like my buddy tim ryan sent, understand exactly what is in front of the american voter right. >> steph, i would also argue that in kentucky, it was a forceful defensive abortion from governor beshear, and a forceful rejection of anti-trans rhetoric. veto the anti-trans bill and everyone said, oh, this will cost us the election. and he made very clear what he did that. he talked about freedoms, and parents have been able to make decisions for their children. >> congressman ryan, i don't know, i've seen you on television in the last 24 hours, and you are very concerned about the polls out there that we're not looking great for president biden. you said that the idea of biden running for president, quote, scares the hell out of you, and people on someone different. this night change the opinion? >> i think tonight was about issues, and i think tonight is about how candidates matter, brands matter. look at kentucky, andy beshear, a very empathetic candidate. talk about, how do we get -- how do we rebuilt the economy together? even on the issues of trans people, how do you take care of people? by on the issue with the biden messaging is that people aren't feeling it, and you can't tell them that they are feeling it. we have to be empathetic like andy beshear was, but this was an issue -- this was an election about issues, and i think what is really important here, stephanie, is that people, republicans, and democrats, independents, just like michael steele just said, agree with the democrats on the issues. our brand is not great, but when it comes down to the 60s, and we have been seeing this for years, when they don't agree with democrats, but they agree with where we stand in the polls, that is something that we have to be honest about, that we have to fix, but i think tonight was an affirmation of, we are aligned with the american people on the issues that they care about most, from ohio to kentucky to virginia, and if we can get the message right, we can empathize with people, you can understand that there is still not feeling the economic boost that the macroeconomic numbers are showing, that we can continue to win these elections. >> symone, tim brings up amazing points. here is the thing, president biden has helped us avert a recession. the majority of economists out there, a year ago, predicted that they would be in recession right now. we're not, which is great, however, life is still really expensive, and people don't feel good about it. this is a hard message for the president to convey, so after tonight, should democrats look at something like abortion rights and make it even more central to their campaigns? >> yes, i think abortion rights has been very essential to campaigns since the overturning of roe, if you looked at what happened in 2022. i do think that from what i have seen from this white house but also the biden harris campaign, they have been going out, and specifically, the vice president, and keeping the issue of abortion alive and well, talking about freedoms and catching it under the banner of freedoms. i think congressman ryan make a point. it is the issues, it is the message, but we cannot get the messenger. like, it is joe biden that put up the criticism at the whole messaging situation, it's branding and bidenomics. i don't think people understand what bidenomics is. what they do understand is that you just tell them what they are getting. that is what joe biden did today or yesterday, when he announced the 16 billion dollars for rail. he just told him what they were getting. that is bidenomics, but they did not call it bidenomics. i think that is what needs to happen. that is what andy beshear needs tonight. he talked about bidenomics. the battery production facilities. >> prescription drug prices. >> all of those things, so i actually think that the folks -- not that a lot of people of joe biden today, because, honey, i watched the news, i was sitting by the piano, the people had very critical words for the president. he needs to drop out, i don't know. >> mr. steele, do you think the campaign and other democrats can use tonight heading into 2024, especially when it comes to campaigning red states, for condone about that? >> they can learn a lot. they really can. honest to god, they can. i just wish they would get off stupid. this is not complicated. you're running against a guy who has 91 federal indictments against him. you're running against the party that has embraced that, that has set, yes, will support you even if he is convicted. and your tripping up over the age of your candidate, who by the way, his opponent is, what, three years younger than him? so, look, you've got narratives upon narratives that you can relate to the voters. it's not hard. just tell them what you have done and show them how it has impacted them. yes, we still feel a little bit of pent here in their, but by and large, what ultimately happens, in this election cycle has proven, in states like virginia, where you got youngkin, for a simple, who has laid out the glossy narrative, the had a lot of appeal with a lot of folks two years ago, things have settled in now, and yes, things are still a little bit on the margins for folks, but one pressed on the point of where do we go next, and who leads us there, you know, i think joe biden as a casey can make. if the democrats will get out of his way. >> tim, what do you think in virginia, tonight says for glenn youngkin and its national aspirations, if he does not get full control of the state, which he set out to do tonight, whispered under that, we have been hearing for months that the sky has president risen all over him. if he does not gain control, will that change the narrative? >> i think so. i think he is planning on making announcements tomorrow. he probably has a shadow press conference planned that will get deep six tonight. again, he is out of step with the virginia voters, especially on the issue of joyce, when he was clearly even catching a song and i was there at the end, because he did not want to talk about vance. i don't remember the goofy word he used to try to sauce it up a little bit. the reality is, he is not going to be running for president now. i think he is going to be stuck in virginia, and hopefully, when the governor's races up next, we can take him out, and i think that is, again -- we are aligned with the people on the main issues that they are thinking about today. we just got to make sure that we can communicate that the way that ended in connecticut or get there. >> all right, then, simone sanders townsend, michael steele, and congressman tim ryan. good to see all. when we come back. we talked to doctors about ohio voting, yes, on the ballot measures the mone was talking about to protect access to abortion and later, we mentioned the high stakes in virginia, when the entire state house up for grabs, an expert on vginia politics is here to break down what you need to know, when the 11th hour, just getting underway on a very important tuesday night. t tuesday night. is made for people like sam, who make- everyday products, designed smarter. like a smart coffee grinder, that orders fresh beans for you. oh, genius! for more breakthroughs like that- i need a breakthrough card. like ours! with 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more. plus unlimited 2% cash back on all other purchases. and with greater spending potential, sam can keep making smart ideas- a brilliant reality! the ink business premier card from chase for business. make more of what's yours. somedays, i cover up because of my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. now i feel free to bare my skin, thanks to skyrizi. ♪(uplifting music)♪ ♪nothing is everything♪ i'm celebrating my clearer skin... my way. with skyrizi, 3 out of 4 people achieved 90% clearer skin at 4 months. in another study, most people had 90% clearer skin, even at 5 years. and skyrizi is just 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. thanks to clearer skin with skyrizi - this is my moment. there's nothing on my skin and that means everything! ♪nothing is everything♪ now's the time. ask your doctor about skyrizi, the #1 dermatologist-prescribed biologic in psoriasis. learn how abbvie could help you save. rsv is out there. for those 60 years and older protect against rsv with arexvy. arexvy is a vaccine used to prevent lower respiratory disease from rsv in people 60 years and older. arexvy does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients. those with weakened immune systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. the most common side effects are injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and joint pain. i chose arexvy. rsv? 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[applause] the passing issue will be felt throughout the state for generations to come. >> this evening, ohio voters have approved the right to abortion in the state constitution, and these results could be a preview of what we could see at the national level in less than a year. for more, let's bring in pediatric doctor warren beene, the executive director for a high of reproductive rights and my old friend kavita patel, a clinical physician and senior policy director during the abomination. doctor beene, you found at this group to protect patients off the road versus waiters overturned, what is this night like for you? >> this night is incredible. it's such a relief knowing that the voices of ohioans of our patients came through, and we were able to put into law, what we all knew was the right thing to do, which is that we need to make sure that our patients were in control of their own health care, and that our patients of ohioans of making their most personal decisions, and the government was not stan