Republican Returns To Senate After Georgia Runoff

December 2, 2008 9:35 p.m. EST

Atlanta, GA (AHN) - First term Sen. Saxby Chambliss will win another six years in the U.S. Senate, defeating Democratic challenger and former state lawmaker Jim Martin in a runoff.

A win for Martin would have given Democrats a chance at reaching a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats were able to gain six seats this election cycle for a 57-seat majority, including the two independents who caucus with them, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Bernard Sanders (I-VT).