WASHINGTON — Democrats added another Senate seat Thursday in Oregon, leaving only three contests undecided.
Democrat Jeff Merkley, a state legislator, defeated two-term Republican Sen. Gordon Smith by about 40,000 votes. Merkley’s win means Democrats will control 57 of the Senate’s 100 seats, still short of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority.
Sen. Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, was leading in his bid for an eighth term but with felony convictions for corruption hanging over his head. He’s ahead of Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich by more than 3,000 votes, but more than 55,000 remain to be counted.
Out of nearly 3 million votes cast for the Senate in Minnesota, Republican incumbent Norm Coleman has a 438-vote lead over Democrat Al Franken, a former writer for “Saturday Night Live.” He urged Franken to forgo a recount. Franken declined.
Three percentage points separate the candidates in the Georgia Senate race, where votes are still being counted. Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss, who leads with a plurality, and Democrat Jim Martin face a likely runoff Dec. 2.
