The New Realignment

[Emperor Charles V]

Hello. My name is Wolf Blitzer and welcome to CNN's coverage of the 2014 Midterm Elections!

It's 7:00 PM and the polls are about to close in the first few states. We can make the following projections:

Georgia Governor: Too Close to Call
Georgia Senate: Too Close to Call
Georgia's 12th District: John Barrow (D-inc)
Indiana's 2nd District: Jackie Walorski (R-inc)
Kentucky Senate: Too Close to Call
South Carolina Governor: Too Close to Call
South Carolina Senate: Lindsey Graham (R-inc)
South Carolina Senate Special Election: Tim Scott (R-inc)
Vermont Governor: Peter Shumlin (D-inc)
Virginia Senate: Mark Warner (D-inc)
Virginia's 2nd District: Scott Rigell (R-inc)
Virginia's 7th District: Dave Brat (R)
Virginia's 10th District: Too Close to Call

So far, there are no pickups for either party, however this will definitely change as the night progresses. Stay tuned for more results!

[Emperor Charles V]

It's now 7:30 PM and polls have closed in the states of North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia. CNN now project:

North Carolina Senate: Too Close to Call
North Carolina's 2nd District: Renee Ellmers (R-inc)
North Carolina's 7th District: David Rouzer (R)
Ohio Governor: Too Close to Call
Ohio's 6th District: Bill Johnson (R-inc)
Ohio's 14th District: David Joyce (R-inc)
West Virginia Senate: Too Close to Call
West Virginia's 1st District: David McKinley (R-inc)
West Virginia's 2nd District: Too Close to Call
West Virginia's 3rd District: Too Close to Call

The Republicans become the first party to pick up a seat tonight with the victory of State Senator David Rouzer in North Carolina's 7th District vacated by retiring Blue Dog Democrat Mike McIntyre. However, this means barely anything as the district was basically viewed as a Republican takeaway from the beginning.



Congressman-elect David Rouzer (R-NC)

And wait.....we can actually make another projection!

One-term Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, a Republican, despite low approval ratings has won re-election to the governor's mansion beating out a well-funded challenge from his Democratic opponent, State Senator Jason Carter, the grandson of former president Jimmy Carter. However as Deal wins re-election, a tightly contested Senate race in the state between businessman David Perdue and businesswoman Michelle Nunn remains too close to call.



Nathan Deal (R-GA) projected to win another term as governor

[Emperor Charles V]

It's 7:50 PM and just before polls are about to close in a bunch of states, we can make two projections.

First of all, we can project another Republican Governor has won re-election, this time Nikki Haley of South Carolina, the first female and Indian American governor of the state. Governor Haley is projected to win her re-match with State Senator Vincent Sheheen, whom she had narrowly defeated four years ago.



Governor Nikki Haley (R-SC) also projected to win re-election

And another Republican woman has prevailed as the GOP picks up their first Senate seat of the night!

In West Virginia, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, the favorite to win, has defeated her Democratic opponent State Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, winning the seat of retiring Democrat Jay Rockefeller and becoming the first Republican elected to the Senate in the Mountain State since 1942! West Virginia was definitely a seat the Republicans needed for them to retake the Senate tonight.  



Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), now a Senator-elect

[Emperor Charles V]

It's 8:00 PM and the polls have now closed in sixteen more states and Washington D.C.! Here are the results!

Alabama Governor: Robert Bentley (R-inc)
Alabama Senate: Jeff Sessions (R-inc)
Connecticut Governor: Too Close to Call
Connecticut's 5th District: Elizabeth Esty (D-inc)
Delaware Senate: Chris Coons (D-inc)
Florida Governor: Too Close to Call
Florida's 2nd District: Too Close to Call
Florida's 13th District: David Jolly (R-inc)
Florida's 18th District: Too Close to Call
Florida's 26th District: Carlos Curbelo (R)
Illinois Governor: Too Close to Call
Illinois Senate: Richard Durbin (D-inc)
Illinois's 10th District: Too Close to Call
Illinois's 11th District: Bill Foster (D-inc)
Illinois's 12th District: Too Close to Call
Illinois's 13th District: Rodney Davis (R-inc)
Illinois's 17th District: Cheri Bustos (D-inc)
Maine Governor: Too Close to Call
Maine Senate: Susan Collins (R-inc)
Maine's 2nd District: Too Close to Call
Maryland Governor: Anthony Brown (D)
Massachusetts Governor: Too Close to Call
Massachusetts's 6th District: Too Close to Call
Mississippi Senate: Thad Cochran (R-inc)
New Hampshire Governor: Maggie Hassan (D-inc)
New Hampshire Senate: Too Close to Call
New Hampshire's 1st District: Too Close to Call
New Hampshire's 2nd District: Too Close to Call
New Jersey Senate: Cory Booker (D-inc)
New Jersey's 3rd District: Tom MacArthur (R)
Oklahoma Governor: Mary Fallin (R-inc)
Oklahoma Senate: T.W. Shannon (R)
Pennsylvania Governor: Too Close to Call
Pennsylvania's 6th District: Ryan Costello (R)
Pennsylvania's 8th District: Mike Fitzpatrick (R-inc)
Rhode Island Senate: Jack Reed (D-inc)
Rhode Island Governor: Angel Taveras (D)
Tennessee Governor: Bill Haslam (R-inc)
Tennessee Senate: Lamar Alexander (R-inc)
Washington D.C. Mayor: Muriel Bowser (D)

Republicans pick up their second House seat of the night with the defeat of freshman Democratic incumbent Joe Garcia in Florida's 26th Congressional District by Miami Dade County School Board member Carlos Curbelo. The defeat of Garcia, the first congressmember to lose his seat tonight, can be explained by the fact that he was seen by many of his constituents as a "fluke" who was only elected to the heavily-Republican Cuban-majority district in 2012 as a result of his opponent's many sandals.



Congressman-elect Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) who defeated incumbent Joe Garcia (D-FL)

In addition to losing Garcia's South Florida seat, Democrats lose three prime pickup opportunities: New Jersey's 3rd District vacated by retiring Republican Jon Runyan, Pennsylvania's 6th District vacated by retiring Republican Jim Gerlach and Illinois's 13th Congressional District held by freshman Republican incumbent Rodney Davis who was thought to be among the most vulnerable House Republicans tonight. However, the Democrats missed the boat in all three of these seats as the New Jersey and Pennsylvania seats are won by Republicans and Davis holds on in his Central Illinois congressional seat. 



Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) who despite being a top target for Democrats, wins re-election

Stay tuned for more results!

[Senator Cris]

Great!

[Emperor Charles V]

Great!

Thanks! More to come!

[Emperor Charles V]

It's 8:30 PM and the polls have just closed in Arkansas. The Senate race where incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor is in the fight of his life and the open Governor race are both too close to call, as is the race for the state's open 2nd District vacated by retiring Republican Tim Griffin.

Arkansas Governor: Too Close to Call
Arkansas Senate: Too Close to Call
Arkansas's 2nd District: Too Close to Call
Arkansas's 4th District: Bruce Westerman (R)

However, we can project two gubernatorial races that had previously been too close to call:

In Ohio, Republican incumbent John Kasich has sailed to re-election easily beating out Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald who had been caught up in a few scandals in the campaign season. Although some Democrats were optimistic that he could be defeated, Kasich remains in the governor's mansion. Kasich's easier than expected victory in a critical swing state helps him if he is to run for president in two years.



Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) wins re-election to his second term

However, it couldn't be more different for Republican Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett who as we can project has lost his race for re-election by a wide margin to his Democratic challenger businessman Tom Wolf. Corbett is the first incumbent governor to go down tonight, and Wolf's victory has become the Democrat's first pickup of the night. While Governors Deal, Haley and now Kasich have won re-election, other governors still face uncertain re-elections tonight including Dannel Malloy (D-CT), Pat Quinn (D-IN), Paul LePage (R-ME), Rick Snyder (R-MI), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Scott Walker (R-WI).



Tom Wolf (D), a Pennsylvania businessman has defeated highly unpopular incumbent Tom Corbett to become the state's next governor

Stay tuned for more results as more polls close at 9:00!

[badgate]

Welcome back

[Fuzzy Bear]

I am stubbornly unconvinced that Shelly Moore Capito will be elected from WV.  I believe that the Democratic underpinnings in WV are still strong enough for Tennant to prevail, albeit not by much.  I agree that this is stubbornness; the polls tell me otherwise.

[Emperor Charles V]

Welcome back

Thanks! More to come!

[Emperor Charles V]

I am stubbornly unconvinced that Shelly Moore Capito will be elected from WV.  I believe that the Democratic underpinnings in WV are still strong enough for Tennant to prevail, albeit not by much.  I agree that this is stubbornness; the polls tell me otherwise.

I can see how you're unconvinced as the Democratic political machine is very strong in WV although the state voted solidly twice against Obama. However, the Senate race is rated Leans/Likely Republican by the pollsters and Capito is consistently leading Tennant in the polls. Plus, she is the daughter of a popular former governor. And due to the recent coal crisis, WV Democrats are extremely unpopular this cycle to the point where  Nick Rahall who has been in congress since 1979 (!) might lose. 

[Maxwell]

I am stubbornly unconvinced that Shelly Moore Capito will be elected from WV.  I believe that the Democratic underpinnings in WV are still strong enough for Tennant to prevail, albeit not by much.  I agree that this is stubbornness; the polls tell me otherwise.

You should also note that polls in West Virginia are generally more Democratic than actual results.

[Emperor Charles V]

It's 9:00 PM and polls have just closed in a bunch of more states! Here are the projections we can make:

Arizona Governor: Too Close to Call
Arizona's 1st District: Too Close to Call
Arizona's 2nd District: Too Close to Call
Arizona's 9th District: Too Close to Call
Colorado Governor: Too Close to Call
Colorado Senate: Too Close to Call
Colorado's 3rd District: Scott Tipton (R-inc)
Colorado's 4th District: Ken Buck (R)
Colorado's 6th District: Too Close to Call
Kansas Governor: Too Close to Call
Kansas Senate: Pat Roberts (R-inc)
Louisiana Senate: Too Close to Call
Louisiana's 6th District: Dan Claitor (R)
Michigan Governor: Too Close to Call
Michigan Senate: Too Close to Call
Michigan's 1st District: Dan Benishek (R-inc)
Michigan's 4th District: John Moolenaar (R)
Michigan's 7th District: Too Close to Call
Michigan's 8th District: Too Close to Call
Michigan's 11th District: Kerry Bentivolio (R-inc)
Minnesota Governor: Mark Dayton (D-inc)
Minnesota Senate: Al Franken (D-inc)
Minnesota's 2nd District: John Kline (R-inc)
Minnesota's 6th District: Tom Emmer (R)
Minnesota's 7th District: Collin Peterson (D-inc)
Minnesota's 8th District: Too Close to Call
Nebraska Governor: Pete Ricketts (R)
Nebraska Senate: Ben Sasse (R)
Nebraska's 2nd District: Lee Terry (R-inc)
New Mexico Governor: Susana Martinez (R-inc)
New Mexico Senate: Tom Udall (D-inc)
New Mexico's 2nd District: Steve Pearce (R-inc)
New York Governor: Andrew Cuomo (D-inc)
New York's 1st District: Too Close to Call
New York's 4th District: Too Close to Call
New York's 11th District: Domenic Recchia (D)
New York's 18th District: Sean Patrick Maloney (D-inc)
New York's 19th District: Too Close to Call
New York's 21st District: Too Close to Call
New York's 23rd District: Tom Reed (R-inc)
New York's 24th District: Daniel Maffei (D-inc)
South Dakota Governor: Dennis Daugaad (R-inc)
South Dakota Senate: Mike Rounds (R)
Texas Governor: Greg Abbott (R)
Texas Senate: John Cornyn (R-inc)
Texas's 23rd District: Too Close to Call
Wisconsin Governor: Too Close to Call
Wisconsin's 6th District: Duey Stroebel (R)
Wisconsin's 7th District: Sean Duffy (R-inc)
Wyoming Governor: Matt Mead (R-inc)
Wyoming Senate: Mike Enzi (R-inc)

Michael Grimm, the scandal-torn two-term incumbent Republican from the Staten Island and Brooklyn based 11th District easily goes down in defeat to his Democratic challenger Domenic Recchia. This marks the Democrats first pickup of the night making Grimm the first Republican congressperson to lose re-election this cycle.



Congressman-elect Domenic Recchia (D-NY), successfully ousts incumbent Michael Grimm, New York City's sole Republican congressmember

On the other side of things, Republicans pick up their second seat, this time in South Dakota where popular former governor Mike Rounds prevails over Democrat Rick Weiland and Independent Larry Pressler. This however is not a big victory for the Republicans at all as it was a seat they expected to pick up tonight and if they didn't, it would've spelled very bad news for them. Since Republicans need a net gain of six seats to take back the upper chamber from the Democrats tonight and they already have two (West Virginia and South Dakota), they need a net gain of four more seats. However this could get difficult as two Republican-held seats still remain too close to call: the seat in Kentucky held by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the open seat in Georgia vacated by retiring Saxby Chambliss.



Former Governor Mike Rounds (R-SD) wins in South Dakota marking the GOP's second senate pickup of the night

A handful of races in states where polls have just closed remain too close to call. In addition to a slew of House races, these include gubernatorial races in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Senate races in Colorado, Louisiana and Michigan.

And we can now call a few races that were previously too close to call:

Florida's 2nd District: Steve Southerland (R-inc)
Florida's 18th District: Patrick Murphy (D-inc)
Illinois's 12th District: William Enyart (D-inc)
Virginia's 10th District: Barbara Comstock (R)
West Virginia's 2nd District: Alex Mooney (R)
West Virginia's 3rd District: Evan Jenkins (R)

Nick Rahall, the veteran Democratic West Virginia congressman who has been in the House since 1977 loses his seat to his Republican challenger State Senator Evan Jenkins. The Blue Dog Democrat who was the former chairman of the House Committee on Natural resources and the seventh most senior congressmember joins fellow Democrat Joe Garcia and Republican Michael Grimm who both also lost their seats tonight.

It seems like it is shaping up to be an interesting night! Sty tuned for more results!