Signs of Republican momentum are building fast as midterm election results come in from around the country.
GOP candidates in several states are doing better than expected or winning their races by more comfortable margins than were predicted.
Some key Senate races were called for Republicans as soon as the polls closed, suggesting wide margins of victory. In others, where Republican candidates were not favored, races are tighter than expected.
In Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was named the victor immediately, squashing any hope of an upset by Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes.
In Arkansas, the race was called the instant polls closed, with Republican Rep. Tom Cotton ousting incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor.
Fox News and BuzzFeed called the Colorado Senate race for Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, sending incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Udall to a stinging defeat and handing the GOP a crucial seat needed in its march toward majority control of the upper chamber.
In Iowa, another tossup state that does not always favor Republicans, Republican Joni Ernst bested Republican Bruce Braley, an important win for Republicans that suggested a better than average election night.
And in North Carolina, where Democrats were optimistic that Sen. Kay Hagan would hold on to win re-election, Republican Thom Tillis came out on top, having stressed to voters Hagan’s support for President Obama.
The biggest early surprise of the evening, and an indication of a growing GOP tide, came in Virginia, where, leading up to Election Day, polls showed Democratic Sen. Mark Warner trouncing Republican Ed Gillespie by 10 points on average. With most votes counted, Warner maintained a lead of just 0.7 percent. A recount can be requested in Virginia if the final margin is less than 1 percent.
In New Hampshire, however, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen was able to narrowly fend off a challenge from former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who recently moved to the state. Polling in the campaign’s final weeks had shown Brown closing the gap, but that swell of support was insufficient for the GOP candidate.
Exit polls, usually imprecise but good indicators of the mood of voters, did appear to confirm strong anti-incumbent and anti-Obama sentiments, which would likely benefit Republican candidates in many races. In exit polls published by CNN, two-thirds of Americans said the country is on the wrong track.
