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The New Senate

Election Day brings big changes not only to the White House, but also to Congress. Senators serve for six years at a time. There are two from each state. This year, 35 Senate seats were up for election.

Democrats currently hold a small voting majority in the Senate. They gained at least six seats on November 4. They pushed out Republicans in North Carolina, New Hampshire and Oregon. They captured open Senate seats in Virginia, Colorado and New Mexico.

The new senators will give Democrats more control. "The Senate is going to have to work things out in a bipartisan way," said Republican senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, of Texas.

But despite the big wins, the Democrats did not reach the 60-vote majority they had hoped for. Also, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky held on to his seat.

Some results still were not clear by November 6. Races in Alaska, Georgia and Minnesota were too close to call. In Minnesota, Republican senator Norm Coleman led his challenger, Democrat Al Franken, by fewer than 600 votes. Minnesota law requires a recount in such a close race. The recount could take two weeks.

Next: Democrats Dominate the House