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Eric Ringham

Election 2014: Dayton re-elected; GOP captures Minn. House, US Senate

Newly re-elected Gov. Mark Dayton
Newly re-elected Gov. Mark Dayton celebrates with Lt. Gov.-elect Tina Smith Tuesday.
Jennifer Simonson / MPR News

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Updated: 12:55 a.m. | Posted: 6:30 p.m

The national Republican Party on Tuesday achieved its goal of regaining control of the U.S. Senate, and Minnesota Republicans did the same in the state House of Representatives.

Even as Republicans surged into legislative power, Minnesota Democrats did well in major races.

• Election 2014: Local, statewide and national results | Coverage of key races | Photos from around Minnesota

Democratic officeholders fended off challenges across the ballot. Sen. Al Franken and Gov. Mark Dayton won their re-election bids, as did Reps. Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, Tim Walz and Collin Peterson. In Minnesota's 8th District, Rep. Rick Nolan was declared the winner early Wednesday morning in his battle with challenger Stewart Mills. Democratic Auditor Rebecca Otto won re-election.

Republican wins were chalked up by Tom Emmer in the 6th District, Rep. Erik Paulsen in the 3rd and Rep. John Kline in the 2nd. And in the Minnesota House, DFL Speaker Paul Thissen conceded early Wednesday that his party had lost its control.

But the big story was the national shift in the balance of congressional power. With Republicans in control of both the House and the Senate, President Obama's ability to pursue his agenda is likely to be compromised.

Balance of power In Senate could change tonight.
Evening arrives at the U.S. Capitol building on Election Day 2014.
Allison Shelley / Getty Images

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell garnered the evening's first big GOP victory in Kentucky, followed by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito's capture of a Senate seat in West Virginia. Republicans also seemed to be cruising to easy victories in other states.

By the end of the evening, it was clear that McConnell's leadership role would switch from the minority to the majority.

Analysts were divided about the effect such a shift might have. While President Obama needs all the help he can get on Capitol Hill, the loss of the Senate might not mean much, given the continuing Republican hold on the House.

As did other Republicans in Minnesota and across the country, McConnell had worked to tie his Democratic opponent to the increasingly unpopular Democratic president.