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US mid-terms: Republicans win control of the Senate | US mid-terms: Republicans win control of the Senate |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Republican Party has won control of the Senate in the US mid-term elections, increasing its power in the final two years of Barack Obama's presidency. | The Republican Party has won control of the Senate in the US mid-term elections, increasing its power in the final two years of Barack Obama's presidency. |
The party won in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia. | |
And it is expected to post more gains as votes are counted in other states. | And it is expected to post more gains as votes are counted in other states. |
The party is also set to strengthen its majority in the lower House of Representatives. | The party is also set to strengthen its majority in the lower House of Representatives. |
Throughout the campaign, Republicans focused on voter dissatisfaction with Mr Obama, a Democrat, describing the vote as a referendum on his presidency. | |
As the first results came in late on Tuesday, it became clear they had made convincing gains in the roughly one-third of the 100 Senate seats up for election. | As the first results came in late on Tuesday, it became clear they had made convincing gains in the roughly one-third of the 100 Senate seats up for election. |
With the votes still being counted in many states, the Republican Party appears easily to have won the six seats it needed to win control of the Senate. | With the votes still being counted in many states, the Republican Party appears easily to have won the six seats it needed to win control of the Senate. |
In addition to seats the party won from the Democrats, the Republicans retained seats in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. | |
In Louisiana, neither of the top two candidates gained 50% of the vote, forcing a run-off election in early December. | |
In Virginia, Democrat Mark Warner was expected to retain his Senate seat amid a much tighter than expected race with Republican ex-lobbyist Ed Gillespie. | |
One of the key early results came in Kentucky, where Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell fended off Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes. | |
Mr McConnell will now become the Senate majority leader, giving him control over the chamber's legislative agenda and floor proceedings. | Mr McConnell will now become the Senate majority leader, giving him control over the chamber's legislative agenda and floor proceedings. |
"It wasn't about me or my opponent," he told supporters as he declared victory, "it was about a government that people can no longer trust." | "It wasn't about me or my opponent," he told supporters as he declared victory, "it was about a government that people can no longer trust." |
Current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid congratulated Mr McConnell in a short statement. | |
"The message from voters is clear: they want us to work together," said Mr Reid of Nevada, whose role in the soon-to-be Democratic minority remains uncertain. "I look forward to working with Senator McConnell to get things done for the middle class." | |
As well as taking the Senate, the Republicans are projected to increase their majority in the House of Representatives, where all 435 members were up for re-election. | As well as taking the Senate, the Republicans are projected to increase their majority in the House of Representatives, where all 435 members were up for re-election. |
They also made gains among the thirty-six governorships up for re-election. | They also made gains among the thirty-six governorships up for re-election. |
Republican governors survived tough re-election battles in Florida, Maine and Wisconsin. | |
In two results that illustrate the breadth of the Republican sweep, the party's candidates won in Maryland and Massachusetts, two of the most Democratic-friendly states in the nation. Republican Bruce Rauner also won in Illinois - Mr Obama's home state - against incumbent Democratic Governor Pat Quinn. | |
When the new Congress is sworn in in January, it will mark the first time the Republicans have held both chambers since 2006. | When the new Congress is sworn in in January, it will mark the first time the Republicans have held both chambers since 2006. |
They will now have the power to complicate, if not block completely, Mr Obama's agenda in the last two years of his term. | They will now have the power to complicate, if not block completely, Mr Obama's agenda in the last two years of his term. |
With control of the Senate, the Republicans can also stymie his ability to name new federal judges, cabinet members and senior government officials. | |
Political gridlock in Congress has already reached historic levels and was a major concern among voters, with many expressing their frustration with the lack of progress on the key issues facing the nation. | |
Analysts say the Republicans' victory could make the situation even worse before the president poll in 2016. | Analysts say the Republicans' victory could make the situation even worse before the president poll in 2016. |
Republican leaders have already pledged to move forward on their key policy priorities, pressing Mr Obama to negotiate on their terms | Republican leaders have already pledged to move forward on their key policy priorities, pressing Mr Obama to negotiate on their terms |
"It's time for government to start getting results and implementing solutions to the challenges facing our country, starting with our still-struggling economy," said Republican House Speaker John Boehner. | "It's time for government to start getting results and implementing solutions to the challenges facing our country, starting with our still-struggling economy," said Republican House Speaker John Boehner. |