Democrats control the House; all eyes turn to Virginia Senate race

The Democrats have been waiting more than a decade for this day, the day they would take majority and control the U.S. House of Representatives.  With the House in hand, focus has turned to the U.S. Senate where a single race will determine which party will hold the balance of power.

Jon Tester edged out Republican Senator Conrad Burns in Montana to give the Democrats 50 of the 100 seats in the Senate. Virginia is the lone state remaining without a clear cut victor. The Democrats will need Jim Webb to unseat incumbent George Allen if they are to gain a 51-49 Senate majority.

With the Senate is comprised of 100 seats and the Vice President. A 50-50 split in voting would mean that the deciding vote would be cast by a Republican, Dick Cheney.

There is little doubt that the Virginia race between Webb and Allen will not produce a clear cut winner. With the race still too close to call, a recount is almost certain.

While the Senate still lays in question, the Democrats certainly made their mark on the House. They gained at least 27 seats and didn’t lose a single seat they already had. The shift in power means that California’s Nancy Pelosi (D) will likely become the first female House Speaker in U.S. history.

Speaking from the Democrat’s election headquarters in the nations capital Pelosi said, “From sea to shining sea, the American people voted for change, they voted for Democrats to take our country in a new direction. And that's exactly what we intend to do.”