Democrats Made Gains in the Senate

Senator-elect Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota

In what may be the upset of the election, Democrat Heidi Heitkamp has won the North Dakota senate race, defeating Republican Rick Berg to fill the seat being vacated by Democrat Kent Conrad (although the race may be close enough for Berg to demand a recount).  ND was considered the GOP's likeliest Senate pick-up.  Heitcamp will join fellow newly-elected Democrats Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts,  Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Masie Hirono of Hawaii, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and Tim Kaine of Virginia.  Other notable victories last night included incumbent Claire McCaskill who defeated Todd "legitimate rape" Akin in Missouri.

In Montana, the results are not yet in, but Democrat Jon Tester is leading.  In Maine, Independent Angus King won the open seat and he has not yet said who he would caucus with.  I note that King is pro choice and supports the Affordable Care Act.  Just saying. 

There were some losses for the Democrats, including a close one in Nevada and not so close ones in Nebraska, Arizona and (groan) Texas, but over all it was a huge night for the party. 

The other incumbent Democrats who were re-elected last night:

Kirsten Gillibrand, NY
Bob Casey, PA
Sheldon Whitehouse, RI
Bob Menendez, NJ
Amy Klobuchar, MN
Debbie Stabenow, MI
Tom Carper, DE
Diane Feinstein, CA
Ben Cardin, MD
Maria Cantwell, WA
Joe Manchin, WV
Ben Nelson, FL
Sherrod Brown, OH

UPDATE:  Jon Tester has been re-elected in Montana!