GOP take control of US Senate, Republicans now have majority in Congress
The Democrats witnessed their control of the Senate torn away Tuesday night as election result after election result had the same message – the Republicans will now control the Senate. Big wins in Colorado, Iowa were followed by wins in Montana, South Dakota, Arkansas, West Virginia and North Carolina — all seats that had been in Democratic hands.
“For too long, this administration has tried to tell the American people what is good for them and then blame somebody else when their policies didn’t work out,” Mitch McConnell, the next Senate majority leader, said in a victory speech.
In the House, the GOP won 246 seats, its largest majority since World War II. Speaker John Boehner, celebrating a widened majority, said he is “humbled by the responsibility the American people have placed with us.”
“But this is not a time for celebration,” he said. “It’s time for government to start getting results and implementing solutions to the challenges facing our country, starting with our still-struggling economy.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has controlled the Senate since 2007, congratulated Republicans on their victory.
“The message from voters is clear: they want us to work together,” Reid said. “I look forward to working with Senator McConnell to get things done for the middle class.”
In Iowa, Iraq war veteran Joni Ernst became the first woman elected to Congress from her state, while fellow Iraqi vet Tom Cotton won in Arkansas over Sen. Mark Pryor as campaigning by Bill Clinton didn’t net Pryor the necessary traction to keep his seat.
In North Carolina, Democrat Kay Hagan couldn’t escape the alliance with President Obama and voters chose Thom Tillis and Cory Gardner wasn’t hampered by the “anti-women” attack ads and defeated Mark Udall.