Virtually all sitting representatives in the 435-member House won re-election, leaving Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay and their GOP majority firmly in charge.

Republicans were poised to add a few seats as they embark on another term of House control -- the first time the party has achieved 12 consecutive years in power in the chamber since the dozen years that ended in January 1933.

"The American people have spoken tonight, and all indications are that they have hired a Republican House of Representatives for the sixth straight election," said DeLay, whose push for redistricting in Texas helped the GOP knock off four veteran Texas Democrats.

Republicans also gained seats in the Senate, keeping Congress under party control. But Democrats will retain enough votes there to make it hard for Republicans to push through their programs.

Nevertheless, Republican leaders sought to portray the results as an affirmation of their priorities in Congress. The vote is "an endorsement by the American people that you're moving in the right direction when it comes to security and safety and more -- on terror, prescription drugs and education," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee told CNN.

By early yesterday, Republicans had won 228 seats and were leading in five other races, which could give them at least 233 seats. Democrats had won 199 seats and led in two other contests.

Republicans hold a 227-205 advantage over Democrats in the outgoing House, plus two vacant seats formerly held by Republicans who have retired and one independent who sides with Democrats.

A minimum of 218 seats are needed for House control.

In case of a tie in the Electoral College between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, the House chooses the next president, which likely means another four years in the White House for Bush.

Democrats did find a couple of bright spots in their otherwise bleak night.

They were heartened by the strong showing from the party's rising-star Barack Obama, who became the lone African-American senator after beating ultra-conservative talk show host Alan Keyes in a landslide in Illinois.

Obama, 43, soundly defeated Keyes in the contest to replace a retiring one-term Republican, garnering more than 70 percent of the vote to Keyes' 27 percent, according to figures early Wednesday.

Democrats were also cheered by the victory of Democrat Ken Salazar, Colorado's attorney general, who has now become the state's first-ever Hispanic senator. (AP/AFP)