Democrats’ path to Senate majority slipping away

Democrats’ chances of retaking the Senate majority slip away as Republicans hang onto key seats in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Indiana and Florida.

Democrats grab a Republican-held seat in Illinois, but the outcome in Wisconsin is a surprise as both parties had expected it to flip for the Democrats. Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson’s victory over former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold forecasts a grim night for the Democrats, who could be consigned to minority status on Capitol Hill for years to come.

Races in GOP-held Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Missouri remain too close to call as Republicans defend a slim 54-46 majority in an unpredictable election year. Democrats will have to win all of those and hang onto Democratic-held Nevada to reach a 50-50 outcome, and could then only claim majority status if Democrat Hillary Clinton wins the White House. The vice president casts tie-breaking votes in the Senate.

— AP