The votes for Senate are still being counted in four states, where results are still up in the air: Oregon, Alaska, Minnesota and Georgia.
It looks as though Jeff Merkley (D) will beat Sen. Gordon Smith (R) in Oregon, as he has pulled ahead by 20,000 votes. If that results holds, Democrats will then hold 57 Senate seats, pending the outcome of the three additional contests.
Sen. Norm Coleman (R) is ahead of Al Franken (D) in Minnesota by just 440 votes out of 2.9 million, and a recount will be scheduled that could last until December.
In Alaska, convicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R) is ahead of Nick Begich (D) by over 3,000 votes, but there are still tens of thousands of votes to count. We may not know the winner for weeks.
In Georgia, the contest between Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) and Jim Martin (D) appears headed to a runoff election on December 2. Georgia is the only state that requires the wiinner to win “50 + 1″% of the vote. Some ballots are still being counted.
Two other new Senators: The Governors of Delaware and Illinois will have to appoint replacement Senators for the President and the Vice President-elect.
Complete Senate election results follow.
Four Senate contests outstanding:
Oregon (80% of the vote counted – Merkley likely victor) While the votes are still being counted, Merkley has pulled into the lead by more than 20,000 votes, and political experts and The Oregonian have declared the challenger the winner.
48% – Jeff Merkley (D)
46% – Sen. Gordon Smith (R)
Alaska (no victor yet – Stevens ahead by about 3,300 votes): There are about 40,000 absentee ballots to count as well as about 9,000 uncounted early votes and thousands of questioned ballots. This contest may not be decided for a couple of weeks.
48% – Sen. Ted Stevens (R)
47% – Nick Begich (R)
Georgia (runoff likely): Chambliss has just under 50% of the vote he needs to avoid a runoff, and some additional ballots are still to be counted. Both candidates are preparing for a runoff, which will be held on December 2.
50% – Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R)
46% – Jim Martin (D)
Minnesota (no victor yet – recount scheduled): Coleman is ahead by about 440 votes out of 2.9 million counted. There will be a recount which would not begin until mid-November and could last well into December.
42% – Al Franken (D)
42% – Rep. Norm Coleman (R)
Top Council for a Livable World Contests
Colorado
52% – Rep. Mark Udall (D)
43% – ex-Rep. Bob Schaffer (R)
Maine
61% – Sen. Susan Collins (R)
39% – Rep. Tom Allen (D)
New Hampshire
52% – former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D)
45% – Sen. John Sununu (R)
New Mexico
61% – Rep. Tom Udall (D)
39% – Rep. Steve Pearce (R)
The Results in Other Critical Senate Races
(without a Council-endorsee)
Kentucky
53% – Sen. Mitch McConnell (R)
47% – Bruce Lunsford (D)
Louisiana
52% – Sen. Mary Landrieu (D)
46% – John Kennedy (R)
North Carolina
53% – Kay Hagan (D)
44% – Sen. Liddy Dole (R)
Mississippi
55% – Sen. Roger Wicker (R)
45% – Ronnie Musgrove (D)
Virginia
64% – Mark Warner (D)
34% – Jim Gilmore (R)
