GOP Retain House, Democrats Keep Senate Control

WASHINGTON — As American voters re-elected President Obama Tuesday they also kept Republican control of the House and Democratic control of the Senate.

While the final results are still being tallied, it appears the Republicans will hold a 236 to 196 majority in the House in the next Congress.

As of early Wednesday morning, Democrats are holding a 53 to 44 majority with three seats still unresolved.

For most of the year, political experts assumed that Republicans would win control of the Senate, in large part because of the 33 Senate elections held Tuesday. Democrats are defending 23 seats while the GOP is defending only 10 seats.

However, several weak Republican senatorial candidates and the surprise retirement of Republican senator Olympia Snowe gave Democrats unanticipated opportunities.

Specifically, weak Republican candidates in Indiana, Florida, and hampered GOP's chances to win control of the upper chamber.

In key races:

In Arizona, Republican congressman Jeff Flake defeated Democrat Richard Carmona, a former US surgeon general.

In Connecticut, Linda McMahon, a Republican businesswoman, was defeated by Democratic congressman Chris Murphy, for the seat that Joe Lieberman is vacating.

Indiana, Republicans State Treasurer Richard Mourdock was defeated by Democratic congressman Joe Donnelly. Mourdock defeated Republican senator Richard Lugar in the Republican primary this spring.

In Maine, Independent Angus King defeated both his Democratic and Republican challengers, but has hinted he will caucus with Democrats.

In Massachusetts, incumbent Republican senator Scott Brown was defeated by her Democratic rival, Elizabeth Warren, who has jumped ahead in recent polls.

In Missouri, incumbent Democratic senator Claire McCaskill defeated Republican congressman Todd Aiken.

In Wisconsin, former Republican governor Tommy Thompson was defeated by Democratic congresswoman Tammy Baldwin.

And in Virginia, former Republican governor and senator George Allen was defeated by former Democratic governor Tim Kaine.

 

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