{Republicans have stormed to victory in US midterm elections, thumping rival Democrats to clinch control of both houses of Congress.}
It assures a fractious final two years of Barack Obama’s presidency.
Riding a wave of frustration with Washington incumbents and the unpopular policies of the Obama administration, Republicans seized at least seven seats from Senate Democrats to claim the majority in both chambers of Congress for the first time since 2006.
‘The American people have put their trust in the Republican Party,’ Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said shortly after the Democratic implosion.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s top Republican, brushed aside the toughest challenge to his Kentucky seat in 30 years and was slated to replace Harry Reid as Senate majority leader.
‘This experiment in big government has lasted long enough. It’s time to go in a new direction,’ McConnell boomed to supporters in his victory speech on Tuesday.
But he sounded a conciliatory note as well, adding that while he and the president rarely see eye to eye, ‘we do have an obligation to work together on issues where we can agree’.
Reid, stung by losing his powerful leadership role, congratulated McConnell but also called for co-operation.
‘The message from voters is clear: they want us to work together,’ Reid said.
Republicans have held the House of Representatives since 2010, and they kept it safely in hand on Tuesday. The only question is whether they’ll dramatically extend their lead there.
But in a glorious night for Obama’s rivals, Republicans also won key governors’ races in Florida, Wisconsin, Texas and elsewhere.
Democrats worked feverishly to draw voters to the polls in a last-gasp effort, but it wasn’t enough to halt the Republican juggernaut.
With no legislative base in Congress, Obama will struggle to pass any reforms in the final stretch of his mandate, and his opponents will be able to thwart his appointments to judicial and official posts.
{{SKY NEWS}}
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