Potential gains in Senate for Dems

Big story still to come tonight, at midnight, is the projection for Senate gains for Democrats... and for women. 

As it now stands at 12:11 a.m, Nov. 7, the Democrats have won 50 Senate seats, plus two Independents — Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders in Vermont, who votes solidly with the Democrats, and Angus King, Maine, who will be a true independent, leaning Democratic on social issues. But there are still four Senate seats in the running, and three of them are leading Democratic.

Tammy Baldwin, D, could be a surprise winner over Tommy Thompson, R, in Wisconsin. It’s currently 50-47 percent in Baldwin's favor with 56 percent counted, with the population centers breaking for Baldwin heavily and those counties are still coming in with the greatest percentage of uncounted votes. 

Shelley Berkley, D, is leading Dean Heller in Nevada, 47 to 45 percent, with 65 percent counted. 

And a shocker in North Dakota with Keidi Heitkamp, D, and Rick Berg, R, tied at 50-50 with 77 percent counted. 

That is, there is an outside chance the Dems could end up with 54 Senate seats and two independents on their side; for 56. A net gain for the Dems.

In addition, there could be 19 women Senators in office this year... which would be a record high, beating 18 in 2008. And, as one female senator said, that means less nonsense in the Senate about reproductive rights and other non-issues, and more focus on creating jobs, coming to grips with climate change, more talk about early education and higher ed funding, etc. 

Other key wins in the Senate: Elizabeth Warren over Scott Brown in Mass., 53-47; Sherrod Brown over Josh Mandel in Ohio, 49 to 46 percent with 76 percent counted; and another cliff-hanger with Dem. Tim Kaine leading Geroge Allen in Virginia, 51-49 percent with 86 percent counted. 

In short, it was a surprisingly good night for Democrats, compared to their fears going into the race.

Angelo Lynn