GOP retains control of House

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The Republicans have retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the fifth straight election since they swept to power in the 1994 landslide.

With just nine races left to call as of 2 a.m. Wednesday, the GOP had already equaled the number of seats they had held prior to the election -- so the only question remaining was how large their new majority would be.

The election was not, however, without some disappointments for the GOP. U.S. Rep. Phil Crane, an Illinois conservative, was defeated. Crane, a member of the House since 1969, came up short the second time he faced Democrat Melissa Bean, losing 51 percent to 49 percent.

Also defeated was Georgia Republican Max Burns, the president of the 2002 GOP freshman class. He fell 51 percent to 48 percent to Democrat John Barrow.

In Texas, four sitting Democrats were defeated in their re-election bids, thanks largely to a new congressional map passed by the GOP controlled Texas Legislature.

Few other seats changed hands, with both parties enjoying their share of disappointments.

Among open seats, the GOP held on with Randy Kuhl in New York's 29th Congressional District, with Jeff Fortenberry in Nebraska's 1st Congressional District, Thelma Drake in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District and with Cathy McMorris in Washington State's 5th Congressional District, once held by House Speaker Tom Foley.