Unhappy electorate boosts Republican wins in Congress

WASHINGTON - Resurgent Republicans won control of the House early today in midterm elections shadowed by recession, promising a conservative majority certain to challenge President Barack Obama at every turn.

Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner of Ohio called the results "a repudiation of Washington, a repudiation of big government and a repudiation of politicians who refuse to listen to the people."

Republicans fell short in their effort to gain control of the Senate and take full command of Congress, although they picked up at least five seats. They also wrested at least eight governorships from Democrats.

Obama telephoned Boehner shortly after midnight to congratulate him, a call that underscored the transition to divided government. During what Boehner described as a brief but pleasant midnight conversation, the two discussed working together on priorities for Americans. Boehner said in a statement he told the president that the people expect them to cut spending and create jobs.

Earlier in the evening, Boehner and other Republicans said they were eager to work with Obama - on their terms. Republicans have said they want to cut $100 billion in the first year and try to roll back Obama's overhauls of health care and financial regulations.

Though Republicans will control the House, the Democrats will still have the Senate - and Majority Leader Harry Reid will still be among them. Reid defeated tea party challenger Sharron Angle in a Nevada Senate race that had been seen as a dead heat in recent polls. Angle, a relative newcomer, had raised eyebrows with some of her libertarian views, including a call for an end to Social Security.

Republicans were able to capture six other Senate seats that had been in Democratic hands, including the seat once held by President Obama in Illinois.

But it was in the House where Republicans pushed toward historic gains, as voters disenchanted with the economy, President Obama and government dealt a strong rebuke to Democrats in every corner of the country.

The GOP ousted Democratic freshmen and influential veterans, including some considered safe just weeks ago. Republicans piled up enough gains - 56 by early today - to eclipse their so-called "revolution" that retook the House in 1994 for the first time in 40 years. With leads for 10 other Democrat-held seats, they were reaching toward their biggest House gains since they picked up 80 in 1938.

Ascendant Republican leaders quickly pledged to heed the message of angry voters who they acknowledged were rejecting what both parties had to offer.

"Across the country right now, we are witnessing a repudiation of Washington, a repudiation of big government, and a repudiation of politicians who refuse to listen to the people," Boehner said.

By early today, Republicans had captured 225 seats and were leading for 18 more, while Democrats had won 153 and led for 36. All 435 seats were on the ballot.

Democrats had only picked up two Republican seats, and had lost some of their most powerful members, including Rep. John Spratt in South Carolina, the 14-termer who heads the Budget Committee, and Rep. Ike Skelton in Missouri, the Armed Services Committee chairman.

GOP gains were particularly pronounced in the Rust Belt, with the party racking up two wins in Indiana, five each in Ohio and Pennsylvania, three in Illinois, and two in Michigan. They scored key victories from Maryland to Washington and broke House Democrats' monopolies in New England and in New York City - by defeating Rep. Carol Shea Porter in New Hampshire and Rep. Mike McMahon on Staten Island.