Democrats make strong gains in Senate races

Nonetheless, Democrats were on their way to strong gains and a better position to advance their initiatives on Capitol Hill.

In the House, Democrats were poised 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. Democrats gained 32 seats in 2006.

In a mostly miserable day for Senate Republicans, Democrats either won or held leads in contests for at least four Republican-held seats. Winning those would increase their majority to at least 55 seats. Sixty seats are needed in the 100-member chamber to break a filibuster.

Republicans had yet to win any Democratic-held seats.

Democrat Kay Hagan defeated Dole, a big-name Republican who was once considered a shoo-in for reelection, in North Carolina.

Democrat Jeanne Shaheen turned out Sununu in New Hampshire after a bitterly fought contest, based on television projections.

Two Republican seats in the West appeared to be going to Democrats tonight. In New Mexico, Tom Udall was headed to victory for the New Mexico Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Pete Domenici. His cousin, Mark Udall, was expected to win the Colorado Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Wayne Allard.

Claiming another formerly Republican seat, Virginia Democrat Mark Warner, a former governor, was elected to 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. The 84-year-old Stevens, a senator since 1968, went on TV on the night before the election vowing to appeal his conviction on corruption charges.