WASHINGTON — Democrats strengthened their grip on Congress in Tuesday's elections, toppling Republican Sens. Elizabeth Dole and John Sununu, but they appeared to be falling short in their bid for perhaps the biggest prize on Capitol Hill: a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
With the election of Barack Obama as president and their party in control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue for the first time in 14 years, Democrats are nonetheless in a better position to advance their initiatives.
In the House, Democrats hoped to become the first party in more than half a century to make a net gain of 20 or more seats in back-to-back elections.
In the Senate, they either won or held leads in contests for at least five Republican-held seats, making it likely they will increase their majority to at least 56 seats. Four other contests remained undecided early today.
Sixty votes are needed to break a filibuster. But with a larger majority, Democrats should be able to peel off enough Republican votes to achieve many priorities.
Democrats benefited from Obama's coattails and a strategy that sought to tie Republicans to the deeply unpopular President Bush at a time of economic hardship. As a result, no Democratic-held Senate seat appeared in danger.
In North Carolina, Democrat Kay Hagan, who as a Capitol intern years ago operated the senators' elevator, defeated Dole, a big-name Republican who was once considered a shoo-in for reelection. In New Hampshire, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen turned out Sununu.
In the West, Democrat Tom Udall won the New Mexico Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Pete Domenici. His cousin, Mark Udall, won the Colorado Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Wayne Allard.
Claiming another formerly Republican seat, Virginia Democrat Mark Warner, a former governor, will succeed retiring Republican Sen. John Warner, who is no relation.
In Minnesota, the most expensive Senate race, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken of "Saturday Night Live" fame were locked in a tight race. In Oregon, Republican Sen. Gordon Smith faced a strong challenge from Democrat Jeff Merkley.
In Alaska, Ted Stevens, the longest-serving but scandal-plagued Republican senator, faced a tough challenge from Democrat Mark Begich, mayor of Anchorage.
In Georgia, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss faced a strong challenge from Democrat Jim Martin.
