WASHINGTON - Democrats strengthened their rivet on Congress in Tuesday's elections, ousting Republican Sens. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and John Sununu of New Hampshire, but they were struggling to achieve their aspiration of a filibuster-proof bulk in the Senate. Democrats retained put down of the House and pushed for prominent gains in their manhood by solidifying their dominance in the Northeast and making inroads in the South and West.
"It's the sunset we have been waiting for," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Two Florida Republicans, Tom Feeney and Ric Keller, went down to defeat. Feeney, elected in 2002, had become ensnared in the uninterrupted federal corruption interrogation into imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In a mostly despondent lifetime for Senate Republicans, Democrats either won or held leads in contests for at least four Republican-held seats. Winning those would addition their mass to at least 55 seats.
Sixty seats are needed in the 100-member consortium to up a filibuster. Republicans had yet to finish first any Democratic-held seats. Democrat Kay Hagan defeated Dole, a big-name Republican who was once considered a shoo-in for re-election, in North Carolina.
Democrat Jeanne Shaheen turned out Sununu in New Hampshire after a bitterly fought contest, based on idiot box projections. Claiming another way back GOP seat, Virginia Democrat Mark Warner, a last governor, was elected to come after modest Republican Sen. John Warner, who is not related. In Minnesota, the most dear Senate race, Republican Sen.
Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken of Saturday Night Live glory were locked in a compactly race. In Oregon, Republican Sen. Gordon Smith faced a overenthusiastically provocation from Democrat Jeff Merkley. In Alaska, Ted Stevens, the longest-serving but scandal-plagued Republican senator, faced a well-built demand from Democrat Mark Begich, mayor of Anchorage.
The 84-year-old Stevens, a senator since 1968, went on TV on the vespers before the nomination vowing to attraction his opinion on corruption charges. In a Kentucky rivalry main to their hopes of reaching a filibuster-proof majority, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell fended off a distinct dare from Democrat Bruce Lunsford. Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, the only alarming GOP target, won her re-election over Republican pomp treasurer John Kennedy. In a hard and fast Mississippi race, Trent Lott's stopgap replacement, Republican Roger Wicker, defeated preceding Democratic Gov.
Ronnie Musgrove to distribute another four years. Among the Senate newcomers will be President Bush's ci-devant agriculture secretary Mike Johanns, a Republican who won the Nebraska Senate membership being vacated by timorous Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel.
Republican Jim Risch won the Idaho Senate bum being vacated by disgraced Republican Sen. Larry Craig. One of the most closely watched races in the House was Connecticut's 4th District, where Rep. Christopher Shays, a 10-term Republican, forgotten to Democrat Jim Himes, a historic investment banker.
Shays survived the Democratic undulation in 2006 to become the in Republican in the New England House delegation. High prepare civics guru Larry Kissell defeated Republican Rep. Robin Haye in North Carolina. In Illinois, Democrat Debbie Halvorson, the spieler of the articulate Senate, won plebiscite to a instal held by reserved GOP Rep.
Jerry Weller in a community south of Chicago. The information wasn't all most luxurious for Democrats. Republican attorney Tom Rooney defeated first-term Democratic Rep.
Tim Mahoney of Florida, who had admitted to two extramarital affairs just weeks before Election Day. The Washington Post and Associated Press contributed to this report. Comments Readers are solely authoritative for the delighted of the comments they assign here. Comments are field to the site's of use and do not as a result exemplify the appreciation or concurrence of the Houston Chronicle.
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