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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Democrats retain Senate, Republicans House | Democrats retain Senate, Republicans House |
| (25 days later) | |
| Democrats have strengthened their control over the 100-seat US Senate, with gains in closely watched races in Massachusetts and Indiana. | Democrats have strengthened their control over the 100-seat US Senate, with gains in closely watched races in Massachusetts and Indiana. |
| After a hard-fought election, they now hold a 55-45 majority in the Senate. | After a hard-fought election, they now hold a 55-45 majority in the Senate. |
| But Republicans will keep hold of the 435-seat House of Representatives with a solid majority. | But Republicans will keep hold of the 435-seat House of Representatives with a solid majority. |
| The division in control of the two houses of Congress has led to partisan battles and legislative gridlock since the last mid-term elections in 2010. | The division in control of the two houses of Congress has led to partisan battles and legislative gridlock since the last mid-term elections in 2010. |
| The Democrats repulsed the expected challenge from the Republicans, gaining two seats and losing just one of the seats targeted by their opponents. | The Democrats repulsed the expected challenge from the Republicans, gaining two seats and losing just one of the seats targeted by their opponents. |
| Controversial comments about rape made by two of the Republican candidates weakened their challenge. | Controversial comments about rape made by two of the Republican candidates weakened their challenge. |
| Tea Party | Tea Party |
| In Missouri, Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill had been considered vulnerable until Republican Todd Akin said women's bodies had ways of avoiding pregnancy in what he termed "legitimate rape". | In Missouri, Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill had been considered vulnerable until Republican Todd Akin said women's bodies had ways of avoiding pregnancy in what he termed "legitimate rape". |
| And Republican Richard Mourdock, who said in a debate that pregnancy resulting from rape was "something God intended", was defeated in Indiana. | And Republican Richard Mourdock, who said in a debate that pregnancy resulting from rape was "something God intended", was defeated in Indiana. |
| href="http://static.bbci.co.uk/usaelections2012/1.2.5-38/css/promo.css" /> href="http://static.bbci.co.uk/usaelections2012/1.2.5-38/css/promo_en.css" /> 332 Barack Obama 206 Mitt Romney
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| Mr Mourdock, a favourite of the ultra-conservative Tea Party movement, lost to Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly. | Mr Mourdock, a favourite of the ultra-conservative Tea Party movement, lost to Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly. |
| However, Tea Party stalwart Ted Cruz has been elected in Texas, a seat already held by the Republicans. He becomes the third Hispanic member of the Senate. | However, Tea Party stalwart Ted Cruz has been elected in Texas, a seat already held by the Republicans. He becomes the third Hispanic member of the Senate. |
| In Massachusetts, Democrat Elizabeth Warren took the Senate seat once held by liberal icon Edward Kennedy, who died in 2009. | In Massachusetts, Democrat Elizabeth Warren took the Senate seat once held by liberal icon Edward Kennedy, who died in 2009. |
| She unseated Scott Brown, who won Massachusetts for the Republicans after Kennedy's death. | She unseated Scott Brown, who won Massachusetts for the Republicans after Kennedy's death. |
| Wisconsin has sent the first openly gay senator to Washington. Tammy Baldwin has held the state's Senate seat for the Democrats, defeating former state Governor Tommy Thompson. | Wisconsin has sent the first openly gay senator to Washington. Tammy Baldwin has held the state's Senate seat for the Democrats, defeating former state Governor Tommy Thompson. |
| Ms Warren and Ms Baldwin are among the five women elected to the Senate on Tuesday, bringing the number of US female senators to an all-time record of 20. | Ms Warren and Ms Baldwin are among the five women elected to the Senate on Tuesday, bringing the number of US female senators to an all-time record of 20. |
| In Connecticut, Democrat Christopher Murphy replaces Senator Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's running mate in his ill-fated 2000 presidential bid. Mr Lieberman, now an independent, usually voted with the Democrats. | In Connecticut, Democrat Christopher Murphy replaces Senator Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's running mate in his ill-fated 2000 presidential bid. Mr Lieberman, now an independent, usually voted with the Democrats. |
| Mr Murphy defeated Republican candidate Linda McMahon, a professional wrestling executive who is reported to have spent $42m (£28m) on her election campaign. | Mr Murphy defeated Republican candidate Linda McMahon, a professional wrestling executive who is reported to have spent $42m (£28m) on her election campaign. |
| An independent candidate in the north-eastern state of Maine has taken a Senate seat from the Republicans. | An independent candidate in the north-eastern state of Maine has taken a Senate seat from the Republicans. |
| Angus King, a former state governor, has a record as a fiscal conservative but is seen as socially liberal. | Angus King, a former state governor, has a record as a fiscal conservative but is seen as socially liberal. |
| He replaces retiring Republican Olympia Snowe, who stood down because of the partisan gridlock in Washington. | He replaces retiring Republican Olympia Snowe, who stood down because of the partisan gridlock in Washington. |
| No change | No change |
| Democrats returned senators in the other states targeted by Republicans, including New Mexico, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Rhode Island, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware and North Dakota. | Democrats returned senators in the other states targeted by Republicans, including New Mexico, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Rhode Island, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware and North Dakota. |
| Thirty-three of the 100 Senate seats were up for election. | Thirty-three of the 100 Senate seats were up for election. |
| With most results now in for the House of Representatives, there will be little if any change in the chamber. | With most results now in for the House of Representatives, there will be little if any change in the chamber. |
| Republicans will continue to hold a strong majority and are on target to finish close to the 242 seats they held. | Republicans will continue to hold a strong majority and are on target to finish close to the 242 seats they held. |
| David Kendall, a senior fellow at Third Way, a centrist think tank in Washington, said: "The upshot is that the voters are saying to President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner: 'Go back to the bargaining table; finish the deal.'" | David Kendall, a senior fellow at Third Way, a centrist think tank in Washington, said: "The upshot is that the voters are saying to President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner: 'Go back to the bargaining table; finish the deal.'" |
| Mr Kendall was referring to the intensive negotiations the two men held in 2011. | Mr Kendall was referring to the intensive negotiations the two men held in 2011. |
| The talks ultimately collapsed but were aimed at bringing around $4tn in deficit reductions over the next 10 years. | The talks ultimately collapsed but were aimed at bringing around $4tn in deficit reductions over the next 10 years. |
| That problem still confronts the re-elected president and the new Senate and House when they take office in January. | That problem still confronts the re-elected president and the new Senate and House when they take office in January. |