Asia-Pacific

Democrats retain majority in US Senate

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-03 13:23

WASHINGTON - Struggling Democrats managed to keep control of the US Senate after claiming victories in key states that have been seriously challenged by Republican opponents in this year's midterm elections, according to several US media projections Tuesday night.

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ABC and CNN, citing exit polls, projected that Republicans failed to capture the 10 seats needed to overturn Democrats' majority in the Senate.

Republicans' failure in races in West Virginia and California, two of a dozen toss-up states that were seen up for grabs, made it impossible for Republicans to gain majority in the Senate.

Democrat Joe Manchin, governor of West Virginia, won the Senate race in the coal-rich state, beating back Republican rival John Raese, a local businessman.

In California, three-term Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer won a tight race with Republican candidate Carly Fiorina, former chief executive of computer giant Hewlett-Packard.