Republicans retained control of the House, confronting President Barack Obama with a continuing partisan obstacle to his second-term agenda.
The results left the chamber's balance of power intact despite a restive electorate. The House's dwindling band of conservative Democrats shrunk further, as Republicans defeated two Democratic incumbents in the South and picked up several open seats held by "Blue Dog'' Democrats who had decided to retire.
Still, Democrats offset some of their losses by defeating several GOP incumbents, including tea-party-backed freshmen who had been a big part of the GOP 2010 landslide.
By 1:45 a.m., Republicans were set to win 239 seats and Democrats 193, according to the Associated Press.
Strategists in both parties expect the House's bottom line will change little, in a departure from the last three so-called wave elections that brought major swings in the party makeup of the House—toward Democrats in 2006 and 2008 and toward Republicans in 2010.
"We're humbled to have again been entrusted by the American people with the responsibility of leading the People's House,'' said House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), in a statement prepared before the outcome of the presidential election was known. "We stand ready to work with any willing partner—Republican, Democrat or otherwise." |