Republicans trounce Democrats in U.S. Senate mid-term elections

A stronger-than-expected performance in the midterm elections has given Republicans control of the United States Senate over Democrats (leading with 52 Senators against 48).

Republicans captured Senate seats in West Virginia, Arkansas, South Dakota, Montana, Iowa and Colorado; while they fended off Democrats in Kentucky, Georgia and Kansas, giving the party the 51 seats needed for a majority in Congress’ upper chamber.

The presumed new Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, pledged to work with Obama in the last two years of the president’s term after McConnell’s own decisive reelection victory in Kentucky began a steady rout for Democrats across the country.