Republicans take control of US Senate

Americans cast ballots across the country Tuesday, giving control of both houses to Republicans for President Barack Obama’s final two years in office. Even though the outcome of some contests remains unknown, Republicans clearly retained their large majority in the House of Representatives and claimed Democratic-held seats in key Senate races.

In Colorado, incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Udall was defeated by Republican challenger Cory Gardner. “Tonight we shook up the Senate. You shook up the Senate,” Gardner told supporters. “We go to work to fix a Washington that is out of step, out of touch and out of time.”

A pledge to rein in the federal government helped propel Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst to victory in Iowa. She said it was about “getting [federal] spending under control, keeping taxes low, and cutting red tape so businesses can grow and invest.”

Tuesday was not a clean sweep for Republicans, as Democrats held onto Senate seats in states such as New Hampshire, where Jeanne Shaheen won another term in office.

“I will work with anyone in the Senate – Democrat, Republican, Independent – to get things done,” she said.

(VOA)