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Election 2016: Republicans on course to retain Congress Election 2016: Republicans retain House and Senate
(about 3 hours later)
The Republican Party has retained its majority in the US House of Representatives, projections suggest. The Republican Party has kept its hold over Congress, capping a dire night for the Democrats.
The TV networks ABC and NBC both projected a Republican majority in the 435-seat chamber, which the party has controlled since 2010. With Donald Trump elected as the next president, the Republicans retained their majorities in the House and Senate.
Republicans have also retained their hold of the Senate despite Democrat hopes of a breakthrough. Republican dominance over Congress in principle enables Mr Trump to turn his policy plans into law.
With Donald Trump winning the presidency he is likely to govern with Congress entirely in Republican hands. But how easily this will happen is unclear given that key party leaders had refused to back him.
The night began with majority control of the Senate up for grabs, with 34 of the 100 seats available.The night began with majority control of the Senate up for grabs, with 34 of the 100 seats available.
But the Democrats have so far gained just one seat in the Senate, with Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee Iraq war veteran, taking Mark Kirk's place in Illinois. During a TV debate last month Mr Kirk mocked Ms Duckworth's Thai heritage, but later apologised.But the Democrats have so far gained just one seat in the Senate, with Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee Iraq war veteran, taking Mark Kirk's place in Illinois. During a TV debate last month Mr Kirk mocked Ms Duckworth's Thai heritage, but later apologised.
However Republicans hung on to other key seats: Another bright spot was in Nevada, which Cortez Masto retained for the Democrats, beating Republican Joe Heck to become the first Latina US senator.
However elsewhere Republicans hung on to other key seats:
Democrats also failed to significantly dent Republican advantage in the House, with just five Republican incumbents losing.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had distanced himself from Mr Trump after previously endorsing him, won re-election to the House of Representatives in Wisconsin.House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had distanced himself from Mr Trump after previously endorsing him, won re-election to the House of Representatives in Wisconsin.
"We are eager to work hand-in-hand with the new administration to advance an agenda to improve the lives of the American people." Mr Ryan told supporters.
Ilhan Omar became the US' first Somali-American legislator, with victory in a House race in Minnesota. She came to the US while still a child, escaping Somalia's civil war with her family and spending four years in a Kenyan refugee camp.Ilhan Omar became the US' first Somali-American legislator, with victory in a House race in Minnesota. She came to the US while still a child, escaping Somalia's civil war with her family and spending four years in a Kenyan refugee camp.
Dominance in Congress is seen as being crucial to the next president's prospects of turning policy plans into law.
In other developments, the controversial Republican sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, was voted out after he was charged with contempt for ignoring a judge's order to stop patrols targeting Latinos.In other developments, the controversial Republican sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, was voted out after he was charged with contempt for ignoring a judge's order to stop patrols targeting Latinos.