Rand Paul wins the Kentucky Senate seat as the red tide begins

The red tide has begun as Republicans gained a Senate seat in Indiana, and tea party favorite Rand Paul coasted to victory in Kentucky in midterm elections Tuesday night, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Updates:

• Media reports indicate the GOP took the House.
• Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) lost his bid for reelection to Republican Ron Johnson, according to the AP.
• Republican Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta has defeated Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), breaking the Democrats’ monopoly on New England House seats, according to the AP.
• Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) survived a challenge from Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon to win reelection to a second term, according to the AP.
• Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) lost to Republican state Sen. Robert Hurt, despite a massive last-minute effort by Democrats to protect him, according to the AP.
• Republicans picked up another Senate seat in North Dakota, when Republican Gov. John Hoeven won the seat held now by Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan, according to the AP.
• Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), the outspoken freshman whose fierce criticisms of Republicans brought him national attention, lost his House seat to Republican Daniel Webster, a former state House speaker, according to the AP.
• Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) has won reelection over Democratic Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, according to the AP.
• Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry has won reelection over Democrat Bill White, the mayor of Houston, according to the AP.
• Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) has lost her bid for reelection to Republican Rep. John Boozman.
• Republican Kelly Ayotte has defeated Rep. Paul Hodes to win New Hampshire’s open Senate seat, according to the AP.
• Republican Marco Rubio defeated Gov. Charlie Crist and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek to win Florida’s open Senate seat.
• Former Sen. Dan Coats (R) has defeated Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth to replace Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), a pickup for the GOP, according to the AP.
• Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) has lost his race for reelection to Republican Morgan Griffith, according to the AP.

I suspect that before the night is over, the Democrats will lose the House and their Senate Leader, Harry Reid, will be defeated as well.  House Leader Nancy Pelosi will survive, but she will be toast as her own party will act to remove her as their Speaker after the election.

Here in California however the Democrats are expected to prevail in almost all the state races.  I think Steve Cooley might still win the State Attorney General’s race, but other than that it looks like a rough night for the California GOP.

The Democrats will likely prevail in some races here in Orange County, involving their incumbents, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and State Senator Lou Correa, as well as Assemblyman Jose Solorio.  Their challengers, including Phu Nguyen, Beth Krom, Bill Hedrick and Melissa Fox, face tougher odds.  Of the lot, Nguyen and Hedrick have the best opportunity to upset their GOP opponents.

If Sanchez loses to her Republican opponent, Assemblyman Van Tran, it will be akin to a nuclear bomb dropping on the DPOC.  But I don’t see him pulling this out.  Sanchez has had a lot of help from Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and from Assemblyman Solorio,as well as the O.C. Central Labor Council.

But overall, losing the House will be tough on the O.C. Democrats.  Many will no doubt wonder what might have happened if Hillary Clinton had defeated Barack Obama.  I have a feeling she might have done a far better job as President.  Obama has been a disaster, and he will face the music tonight, as he plans to present a televised speech after the elections.