Republicans have seized control of the Senate and strengthened their hold on the House in a wave of Election Day victories.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell defeated his Democratic challenger in Kentucky, putting him in position to become the new Senate majority leader.

Republicans picked up Senate seats in seven states.

And Republicans are on track in the House to meet or exceed the 246 seats they held during President Harry Truman’s administration more than 60 years ago.

Republicans also swept governor’s races across the country, scoring upsets in Democratic bastions like Maryland, Massachusetts and Illinois.

The Democrats’ only significant victory came in Pennsylvania, where businessman Tom Wolf ousted GOP Gov. Tom Corbett.

Three contests remain too close to call: Alaska, Colorado and Connecticut.

House Speaker John Boehner is telling Republicans that despite victories in the House and Senate, it’s “not a time for celebration.”

Boehner says instead, it’s time for government to start “implementing solutions to the challenges facing our country.” He says those challenges begin with what he calls a “still-struggling economy.”

Most voters would agree with that. Exit polls showed voters don’t have much trust in government, feel the nation is off on the wrong track and believe life will be worse for the next generation.

And above all, voters surveyed while leaving the polls say they’re worried about the economy. People who say their own financial situation grew worse in the past two years voted for Republican congressional candidates by a 2-1 margin.

Related Stories
‹
Dems Gain In NCGA, But GOP Keeps Supermajority
The 2014 election was actually good for NC Democrats - but not good enough.
Early Voting Turnout Still High In OC
Orange County is on track to see more than 20,000 early votes cast - much higher turnout than in 2010.
Election Day Is Nigh, And We Still Don't Like Anybody
Election season is almost over. Thank goodness.
2014: Gains For Dems In NC?
PPP director Tom Jensen says Democrats could pick up enough NCGA seats to end the GOP's veto-proof majority.
Sen. Hagan's Fate May Rest In The Hands Of The President
Obama’s approval has dropped ten points in North Carolina since September," PPP Director Tom Jensen says. "Kay Hagan’s net approvals has dropped ten points in North Carolina since September."
Sen. Hagan Approval Slipping in Wake of Obamacare Web Launch
The failed launch of the Obamacare website is acting like gravity for the approval ratings of democrats in Washington D.C.
Germany Votes Sunday for a New Government That Will Shape Europe’s Response to an Assertive Trump
German voters go to the polls Sunday to elect a new parliament that will determine how the country is run for the next four years.
On the Porch: A Conversation with Braxton Winston
This Week: Braxton Winston served as a Charlotte City Council At-Large member from 2017-2023 and served as Mayor Pro Tem. Braxton learned during his tenure that communities thrive when their workforces thrive. As the next Commissioner of Labor, he will support North Carolina’s working families and businesses by: ensuring that all workers go to work in a safe environment, advocating for all people to be paid fairly under NC labor laws, and defending workers rights wherever they find work. Braxton is running for Commissioner of Labor to make North Carolina the #1 state for business and workers. Learn more at votebraxton.com
Ahead of the 2024 Election, Here's How to Read a Public Opinion Poll
Since we're about to see a lot of them: how should we interpret the results of a public opinion poll? Expert pollster Tom Jensen weighs in.
Top Stories of 2022: New Faces, New Districts and Busted Trends in Midterm Elections
The 2022 midterm election was good for Democrats nationally, good for Republicans statewide - and defined locally by several key retirements.
›