Narrow Ohio Dem Victory Boosts House Majority to 79

Kilroy snatches 21st seat from GOP
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:53 AM CST
Narrow Ohio Dem Victory Boosts House Majority to 79
Mary Jo Kilroy smiles at a news conference in Columbus, Ohio. Kilroy snatched a seat from House Republicans in a tight central Ohio race.   (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

The last outstanding contest for the House of Representatives is over, with Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy declared the winner in a tight Ohio contest, boosting the Democratic majority to 79 seats. Kilroy is the first Democrat in a generation elected to the House in her county. Her victory over state Sen. Steve Stivers makes 21 seats the Democrats have grabbed from Republicans this election, giving the Dems a pronounced 257-178 edge in Congress, reports the Hill.

Republicans stole a seat from Democrats in Louisiana on Saturday when Joseph Cao, the first Vietnamese-American ever elected to Congress, beat indicted Rep. William Jefferson. In the other Louisiana contest delayed by Hurricane Gustav, Republican John Fleming appears to have won by just 356 votes out of 91,000 cast in his race against Democratic opponent Paul Carmouche.
(More Mary Jo KIlroy stories.)

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