US elections: Republicans win senate control

Republicans won at least 52 votes in the 100-member US senate, indicating that Barack Obama will spend his final years as president contending with a congress fully controlled by opponents.

Republican supporters cheer as a giant TV screen displays the results of the senate race in the US midterm elections on November 4, 2014. Rick Wilking / Reuters

WASHINGTON // Resurgent Republicans won control of the US Senate, capturing seats from Democrats in elections shaped by deep voter discontent with President Barack Obama.

With Republicans strengthening their majority in the House of Representatives, Mr Obama will spend his final two years as president contending with a congress fully controlled by opponents who have been determined to block his policies.

Republicans won at least seven seats currently held by Democrats, while Democrats failed to pick up a single Republican seat. That assures the Republicans of at least 52 votes in the 100-member chamber.

They were also on track to expand their majority in the House of Representatives to near-historic levels. And they won two high-profile seats in Florida and Wisconsin, where Democrats thought they had a good shot at defeating the incumbents.

Voters are “hungry for new leadership. They want a reason to be hopeful”, said Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a re-elected Republican who would likely become majority leader in the senate.

Outgoing senate majority leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said: “The message from voters is clear: They want us to work together.”

The shift in control of the senate will likely result in a strong Republican assault on budget deficits, additional pressure on Democrats to accept sweeping changes to the health care law that stands as Mr Obama’s signal domestic accomplishment and a bid to reduce federal regulations.

* Associated Press