The GOP captured Democratic open seats in Georgia, Louisiana North Carolina, and South Carolina and retained key incumbents that helped boost their number of seats in the Senate to 52, with the potential for more additions when the results of several outstanding races are decided.
Among the GOP winners in the most contested contests were Rep. Jim DeMint in South Carolina, Rep. Richard Burr in North Carolina, David Vitter in Louisiana, and Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky.
In Oklahoma, GOP Sen. Don Nickles' seat has been retained by the GOP with former Rep. Tom Coburn prevailing in a tough challenge.
In Florida, Democratic candidate and former state legislator Betty Castor is behind former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez by a narrow margin, leading Martinez to declare victory. But with a number of uncounted absentee ballots left in the state, Castor has yet to conceded defeat.
In what has been the most closely watched Senate race this year, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle remains slightly behind his GOP challenger, former Rep. John Thune by under 1,000 votes.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International
