Merkley Wins Oregon Senate Seat

According to the Portland Oregonian, Democrat Jeff Merkley has defeated Republican Sen. Gordon Smith for the closely contested Senate seat in Oregon.

As of right now, Merkley is 6,359 votes ahead of Smith with 78% of the precincts reporting, and most of the votes that are left to be counted are from more Democratic areas of the state.

The Democrats have now picked up six Senate seats, putting their total at 57 to the Republicans' 40. Three races--in Alaska, Minnesota and Georgia--are still too close to call. If by some miracle the Democrats win all three of those races, they will have their 60-seat filibuster-proof majority. But I wouldn't bet more than a dime on that happening.