Republicans retain Senate, House
Observer Staff Report
For the first time since 1920, the Republicans will retain control of both houses of Congress for four consecutive sessions.
With all 435 House seats 34 of the 100 Senate seats at stake, the Republicans appeared to have held control of both houses at press time.
Republicans held 223 seats compared to the Democrats 210 seats with independents holding the other two. At 4:30 a.m., the Republicans had won 215 seats while the Democrats had won 203. Both independents appeared to have retained their seats. Fifteen seats remain undecided at press time.
The Republicans held a 54-46 advantage in the Senate and had 19 seats up for reelection. At press time, cnn.com predicted the Republicans would win only 15 of those seats. Hillary Clinton and decease Missouri governor Mel Carnahan helped the Democrats win 18 seats. The race in Michigan was still too close to call at 5 a.m. Democrat Debbie Stabenow held 20,000 vote lead with 87 percent of all precincts reporting over Republican incumbent Spencer Abraham.
In addition to Missouri incumbent John Ashcroft who lost to Calahan, Republicans lost several key Senate seats. Delaware Senator William Roth, the former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, lost to Democratic governor Tom Carter. Internet millionaire Maria Cantwell defeated Washington Senator Slade Gorton and Minnesota Senator Rod Grams fell to Mark Dayton.
The Republicans, however struck back with wins in Nevada and Virginia. Incumbent Democrat Charles Robb lost to former governor George Allen in Virginia while Republican John Ensign captured the empty former-Democrat seat in Nevada.
In the House, Republicans captured open Democratic seats in Pennsylvania, New York, Missouri and Virginia and barely retained seats in Pensylvania, Kentucky, Indiana and North Carolina.
The narrow victories and tiny majority held by the Republicans could make partisan battles even worse in the next two years.
"We will have to reach across the aisle and do things on a bipartisan basis," Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert said on CNN. Hastert recaptured his seat in Illinois with 74 percent of the popular vote.
All News Stories for Wednesday, November 8, 2000
