The Senate Results... So Far

Tom Udall: best news so far

For many of us following the results on TV or radio last night, the first really good news was the political demise of Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina-- a state that later broke tradition and gave it's 15 electoral votes to Obama, elected Bev Perdue governor, and gave Blue America its first big congressional victory of the night with the convincing election of Larry Kissell over incumbent rubber stamp Robin Hayes in the 8th CD. Kay Hagan won with 2,207,819 votes (53%) over Dole's 1,855,352 (44%), a wider margin than either Obama or Perdue. Monday we explained how Dole cooked her own goose.

Several Senate races haven't been called yet but here's the lay of the land for the seats we were watching as of 9am (PT) Wednesday:

Colorado:

Moderate Democrat Mark Udall defeats reactionary scumbag Bob Shaffer with 51.87- 43.45%

Kentucky:

Reactionary Republican crook Miss McConnell defeats reactionary Democratic crook Bruce Lunsford 52.97- 47.03%

Maine:

Moderate Bush rubber stamp Susan Collins defeats stellar progressive Tom Allen 60.59- 39.41% (tragic)

Mississippi:

Right wing loon Roger Wicker defeats reactionary Dem Ronnie Musgrove, 55.34- 44.66%

Nebraska:

Right wing Bushbot Mike Johanns defeats solid young Democrat with a future Scott Kleeb, 57.74- 39.87%

New Hampshire:

Solid moderate Jeanne Shaheen defeats Bush rubber stamp John Sununu, 52.21 to 44.73%

New Mexico:

Shining progressive Tom Udall clobbers right-wing hack Steve Pearce, 61.13- 38.87%

Oklahoma:

The worst member of the entire Senate, James Inhofe defeats brilliant young progressive Andrew Rice, 56.68- 39.19%

STILL PENDING:

Oregon:

Jeff Merkley is looking good to win in Oregon. The two counties with the most outstanding votes are Multnomah and Lane, both Democratic strongholds that should put Merkley, an outstanding progressive, over the top. Most of the uncounted votes (180,000 of them) are in Multnomah County and that is PURE Merkley country. He leads there 66-29%

Alaska:

Proving that Todd Palin was on the right track about Alaska not being part of the Union-- although status similar to Guam rather than independence is what I think should happen, Alaskans not only voted overwhelmingly for their nitwit governor to be VP, but confounded months of polling to seemingly re-elect convicted felon Ted Stevens. With 99% of precincts counted, Stevens is leading Begich, 106,351 (48%) to 102,998 (47%). Alaskans also re-elected-- again confounding pollsters-- the next of their corrupt political hacks to face prison, Rep. Don Young... and by an even great margin. What an electorate! One can only imagine the state of the educational system.

Georgia:

With 99% of precincts reporting it looks like right-wing kook Saxby Chambliss has avoided a run-off by the skin of his teeth, apparently edging Jim Martin, 1,835,260 (50%) to 1,723,981 (47%). UPDATE: The Secretary of State says Chambliss just slipped to 49.9%, so I guess there will be a run-off. That will probably turn out to be an ugly waste of money.

Minnesota:

A few hundred votes separate Norm Coleman and Al Franken, 1,210,940 vs 1,210,370, so it's definitely recount time.

No Democratic incumbents were defeated and no filibuster-proof majority was achieved. Lieberman's clout is diminished.