Democratic Party likely to retain control of US Senate

WASHINGTON - The Democratic Party is likely to retain control of the Senate, the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the country, after claiming victories in key states.

Democrats won hard-fought contests in California, Delaware, Connecticut and West Virginia.

California Democrat Barbara Boxer has been re-elected to a fourth term in the Senate, turning back a challenge from Republican Carly Fiorina.

Democrat Joe Manchin, West Virginia Governor, won the Senate race in the state by beating back Republican rival John Raese.

Still, Republicans made some gains in states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arkansas, North Dakota and Indiana, ensuring them a louder voice in the new Senate.

Democrats lost President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat, Illinois, where Republican Mark Kirk defeated Alexi Giannoulias, the Washington Post reports.

At stake in nationwide balloting are all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, more than one-third of the Senate, and more than half of America’s governorships. (ANI)