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And with projections still to come in some states, the Democrats had already won the 218 seats needed for a majority in the House of Representatives.
All 435 seats in the House were up for election, while 35 of the Senate seats were available.

Analysts say winning control of both chambers should make it easier for President-elect Barack Obama to push through the legislation he wants.
In the House, the Democrats eased past their previous total of 235 seats, meaning they retain control with an increased majority.

With four states yet to give projected results in the vote for the Senate, the Democrats have 54 seats compared with 40 for the Republicans. The other two seats are taken by independents.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, credited the party's gains to Obama.
"It's been a really good night. Obama ran a terrific campaign, he inspired millions of people," Mr Reid told the Associated Press.

Despite their success, the Democrats failed to win 60 Senate seats - a so-called super-majority that would prevent Republican senators from using procedural blocks such as filibustering to hold up legislation.
Republican candidates endured a miserable day at the polls in most of the closely-fought states.

Virginia voters replaced retiring Republican veteran Senator John Warner with a Democrat, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner.
New Mexico followed a similar pattern, with Democrat Tom Udall voted in to replace long-term Republican senator, Pete Domenici. Mr Udall's cousin, Mark Udall, also unseated a Republican in Colorado.

In North Carolina - one of the states where pollsters predicted a close fight - projections showed Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole beaten convincingly by Democrat rival Kay Hagan.
Another key battleground state was New Hampshire - a traditionally strong Democrat state with a Republican incumbent, John Sununu.

Projections suggest he has lost his seat to the popular former governor, Jeanne Shaheen.
There are still some close contests to come, with the Democrats intent on moving into staunch Republican territory.

One of their most surprising target states has been Alaska, whose Senate delegation has been solidly Republican since 1981.
Incumbent Republican Senator Ted Stevens has been a dominant figure in Alaskan politics since 1968, when he first won his seat.

But he was convicted in October of lying about gifts he had received, and was already facing a tough re-election battle against the Democratic Mayor of Anchorage, Mark Begich.

There was some positive news for the Republicans, with voters in Kentucky and Mississippi returning their candidates despite determined efforts by Democrat rivals.

Meanwhile, voters in 11 states were also electing governors, and in 36 states there were 153 proposals voters could decide on.

These include banning abortion in South Dakota; outlawing affirmative action in Colorado and Nebraska; and banning same-sex marriage in three states, including California - where thousands of gays and lesbians have wed since a court ruling in May.

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