Democrats reach majority of 58 seats in the Senate

Yesterday the Alaska recount gave the Senate seat to Democrat Mark Begich. The event is a not very pleasant birthday present to 85 year-old incumbent convicted felon Ted Stevens. From the New York Times:

With an estimated 2,500 votes still outstanding and other election certification steps still to take place, Mark Begich, the Democratic mayor of Anchorage, had taken a lead of 3,724 votes out of more than 315,000 cast, and he declared victory. [Snip]

Mr. Stevens did not immediately concede the race. He could request a recount, but he would have to pay for it if the current vote margins hold.

Mr. Begich’s victory will end the career of Mr. Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator ever and a pivotal figure in the history of his state after it initially appeared that he would triumph despite his criminal conviction just days before the election.

The defeat came on Mr. Stevens’s 85th birthday, at the end of a day in which he avoided expulsion from the ranks of Senate Republicans as his colleagues awaited the final results.

It seems likely that the Republican Senators saw the handwriting on the wall for the convicted felon Ted Stevens. This may be why they skipped the discussed vote in their caucus yesterday to expel Senator Stevens. It now becomes unnecessary, and the Republican Senators can avoid the bad publicity they would have had when they expelled him.

The win in Alaska by Begich also shuts off the potential opportunity for current Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to reenter national politics by replacing Ted Stevens herself.

This is the second election in a row in which Democrats have made substantial gains in the Senate. While many of the elections have been close, those close elections haven't broken for the Republicans.

Minnesota is still a squeaker with incumbent Republican Coleman leading challenger Democratic Al Franken by roughly 205 votes out of 2.9 million votes cast. Since 205 vote difference out of 2.9 million cast is less than a half percent difference, the election goes to an automatic recount, so the Democrats are within a close shot of having a majority of 59 Senators in the Senate.

Clearly the Republican Party has taken another major hit in the Senate this year. Conservatism does not wear well over the long run.