Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Joe Biden addressed election results for the first time Wednesday, saying it was a “strong night” for Democrats as the party defied expectations and avoided a Republican blowout.
美国总统拜登星期三首次就选举结果发表讲话。他说，对民主党人来说，这是一个“强劲的夜晚”，因为该党出乎人们的预料，避免了共和党的轻松取胜。
“It was a good day, I think, for democracy. And I think it was a good day for America,” Biden said as he delivered remarks from the State Dining Room at the White House. He added, “Our democracy has been tested in recent years but with their votes the American people have spoken and proven once again that democracy is who we are.”
“我认为这是民主的好日子。我认为这对美国来说是美好的一天，”拜登在白宫国宴厅发表讲话时说。他补充说，“我们的民主近年来受到了考验，但通过他们的投票，美国人民再次发声并证明，民主就是我们。”
“While the press and the pundits were predicting a giant red wave, it didn’t happen,” Biden said.
拜登说:“尽管媒体和专家预测会有一股巨大的红色浪潮，但它并没有发生。”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the battle for control of the House and Senate was still up in the air as several key races remained too close to call.
截至周三下午，众议院和参议院的控制权之争仍悬而未决，因为几场关键竞选仍然势均力敌。
defy vt. /dɪˈfaɪ/
to refuse to obey or show respect for sb in authority, a law, a rule, etc. 违抗；反抗；蔑视
I wouldn’t have dared to defy my teachers. 我可不敢不听老师的话。
Hundreds of people today defied the ban on political gatherings. 今天有数百人违抗禁止政治集会的规定。
blowout n. /ˈbləʊaʊt/
( NAmE informal ) an easy victory over someone in a sporting contest or an election <北美 非正式>（体育比赛、竞选中）轻而易举的胜利
The game was a blowout, 8–1. 这场比赛赢得易如反掌，结果是8比1。
pundit n. /ˈpʌndɪt/
A pundit is a person who knows a lot about a subject and is often asked to give information or opinions about it to the public. 权威; 专家
a well-known political pundit
一位著名的政治权威
as of 截止
as of now 截至目前; 到目前为止
as of today 截至今天
up in the air 悬而未决
Our travel plans are still up in the air.
我们的旅行计划尚未决定。
too close to call 势均力敌，难分伯仲，难分胜负
The election was too close to call.
选举仍难分伯仲。