Senate Democrats Now Have 57-Vote Majority

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Senate Democrats gained another seat on Thursday after Democrat Jim Merkley was declared by major networks as the winner of Oregon's close race against two-term Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR). Merkley's win adds another seat to the five already gained by Democrats in the Senate this election.

From a razor-thin majority of 51, which includes independents Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) who caucus with them, Democrats now have a 57-vote majority in the Senate. The five other gains were made in races in Colorado, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Virginia.

Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) won the contest in the Centennial State against Republican Bob Schaffer, while Sen. John Sununu (R -NH) lost his seat to Democratic former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen. In New Mexico, Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) won against Republican rival Steve Pearce to take the seat of retiring Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM).

Republicans also lost a seat they've held for more than three decades when Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan won against Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) in North Carolina. In the Old Dominion, Democratic former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner beat another former governor, Republican Jim Gilmore, to win the seat of retiring five-term incumbent, Sen. John Warner (R-VA).

The results of three Senate races are still unknown: Alaska, Minnesota and Oregon.

The political future of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) remains unclear as no victor has been declared in Alaska's close Senate race and the counting of votes continues. A win for Stevens will not ensure him another term, since top Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), have called for his expulsion or resignation. speculation is rife that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has also urged Stevens to resign, is his likely successor.

In Minnesota, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate Al Franken has asked for a recount after results showed him only about 500 votes away from Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), who declared himself winner of the race. A recount is required under state law in races with margins less than one-half of one percent of the vote.

Minnesota's Senate race is the most expensive Congressional race this year, with nearly $33 million raised by candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and former state Rep. Jim Martin are at odds over the possibility of a runoff in Georgia's Senate race. Chambliss expects the tallying of votes to end this weekend and a few thousand votes to give him a win, while Martin seems to have begun campaigning for the runoff.

Chambliss, a first-term senator who served eight years as congressman, needs 50 percent plus one to avoid a runoff on Dec.2. With 99 percent of precincts reporting and absentee ballots still being counted, Chambliss leads with 50 percent, while Martin has 47 percent.