Republicans claim House majority

With leads in races for 10 other Democratic-held seats,Republicans were marching toward their biggest House gains since they picked up 80 in 1938,during the Depression. Democrats had captured only 2 Republican seats.

A Republican takeover of the House will create a divided government,complicating Obama’s agenda and possibly leading to attempts to repeal his sweeping health care reform legislation.

Republicans have said they want to cut $100 billion in spending in a year and roll back Obama’s overhauls of health care and financial regulations.

Democrats had controlled the House by a 255-178 margin,with two vacancies. All 435 seats were contested.

The election was a remarkable turnabout from 2008,when Obama’s victory helped propel Democrats to big gains in their House majority,following the 2006 wave that swept them to power there.

Democrats will lose the House after only four years,the shortest a party has held the lower chamber since Republicans kept it for just two years from 1953-1955.

The House has the power to raise revenue through taxes and control spending,to impeach officials and to elect the president in case of a deadlock. It can also hold hearings and investigations – a cudgel that could be used to stymie the Obama administration.

Republican Leader John Boehner,in line to claim the leadership position known as speaker and become second in line for the presidency after the vice president,huddled with party leaders,careful to avoid a party-like atmosphere at a time when voters appear fed up with both parties.

“Across the country right now,we are witnessing a repudiation of Washington,a repudiation of big government,and a repudiation of politicians who refuse to listen to the people,” Boehner said.

Obama called Boehner to say he looked forward to working with him and the Republicans “to find common ground,move the country forward and get things done for the American people,” the White House said.

Boehner told the president he wanted to collaborate on voters’ top priorities,creating jobs and cutting spending. “That’s what they expect,” the 10-term Republican said.

House Democrats defended their legislative record and campaign strategy and said they would try to compromise with the Republicans.

“The outcome of the election does not diminish the work we have done for the American people,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California,the first woman to wield the speaker’s gavel. “We must all strive to find common ground to support the middle class,create jobs,reduce the deficit and move our nation forward.”

The Republicans defeated 19 Democrats in districts won by Republican Sen. John McCain in the 2008 presidential campaign.

Democrats went deep into Republican territory to win several seats that year,only to see Republicans win many back this election.

One was lost by freshman Democrat Rep. Tom Perriello of Virginia,who unapologetically supported Obama’s agenda and for whom the president campaigned last Friday.

Republicans did well in several industrial states that make up the so-called Rust Belt,racking up two wins in Indiana,five each in Ohio and Pennsylvania,three in Illinois,and two in Michigan – all states that Obama managed to win in 2008. The party broke House Democrats’ monopolies in New York City and the New England region,winning a seat on Staten Island and in New Hampshire.

Republicans said they had learned painful lessons after being chased from power in 2006 and were ready for a new start.

“Our years in the minority have chastened and disciplined our party,and tonight’s elections show that the American people say it’s time for our party to stop talking and start listening,” said Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia,the No. 2 Republican.

In rare a bright spot for Obama’s party,Democrat John Carney handily beat a Republican in the race for Delaware’s only House seat.

A handful of Democrats heavily targeted by the Republicans pulled through in Kentucky,Ohio and Indiana.

Republican Rep. Ahn “Joseph” Cao in New Orleans,the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress,lost after his first term.

But the few victories were overwhelmed by the scope of potential Democratic defeats. First-termers were lagging in key races as were some of the party’s old veterans. And some Democrats who stressed their independence from their party also went down to defeat.

Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton,chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a military expert,lost after more than 30 years in Congress.

The Republicans eclipsed their 1994 surge to power,which handed them 52 seats and control of the House for the first time in 40 years.

House candidates and party committees raised and spent tons of campaign cash,and Democrats had a slight edge. Republican candidates poured a total of $419 million into their campaigns,while Democrats spent $421.5 million.

But Republican-allied outside groups skewed the playing field dramatically. They spent $189.5 million savaging Democratic candidates while independent groups skewering Republicans spent $89 million.