Republicans in the United States have made momentous gains in the country’s mid-term elections, capturing the majority of seats they required to take control of the US Senate in the final two years of President Barrack Obama’s reign.
The mid-term elections saw the Republican party win at least seven Senate seats to secure at least 51 members of the 100-member chamber, as they also projected a rise in the party’s majority in the House of Representatives.
Millions proceeded to the polling stations on Tuesday to elect 36 senators, 36 governors and all 435 members of the House of Representatives.
Republicans triumphed against incumbent Democrats in Arkansas and Colorado, and snatched the seats of opponents in Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia.
The triumphant party was reported to have also retained two seats in South Carolina.
The thumping win, which was predicted before the polls, overturns the balance of power between the White House and Capitol Hill only six years after Obama’s democrats rode to power and relegated republicans so quickly to reform health care, Wall Street and pass a huge stimulus package.
The elections were widely seen in the US as a referendum on Obama’s policies and the win for the republicans will possibly complicate his final two years in office.
With the victory, democrats will now have to take the back seat on Capitol Hill, relying mostly on the power of the Republicans to keep Obama’s heritage together.
Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, set to lead the chamber, said the result was a vote against a government that people can no longer rely on.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a close Obama ally who has been in control of the Senate since 2007, congratulated republicans on their victory saying that the message from voters was clear.
“They want us to work together, so I look forward to working with Senator McConnell to get things done for the middle class.” Reid said.
There was however silence in the White House following the Tuesday’s election results.
President Obama later on Wednesday will make a public statement on the election which many see as a rejection of his presidency, and he will host bipartisan leaders on Friday to try to chart a way forward.