Republicans on track to keep control of House

Republicans appear to be headed toward extending their eight-year control of the House of Representatives.

Democratic hopes of regaining the chamber dimmed as Republicans chalked up wins or are leading in many races earlier seen as toss-ups.

Americans voted to fill all 435 House seats, but only a tenth of them are deemed to be competitive.

Democrats need a net gain of seven seats to reclaim the control they lost in 1994. But as returns roll in, it seems likely they will miss the mark.

"Everyone here is accepting the fact that the House will stay Republican," said Robert Weiner, who was speaking at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

In a closely watched Kentucky contest, three-term Republican Rep Anne Northup defeated Democrat Jack Conway.

Republican Jeb Bradley defeated Democrat Martha Fuller Clark for an open New Hampshire in another hard fought race.

Republican Rep Shelley Moore Capito won a second term in West Virginia, defeating Democratic challenger Jim Humphreys, in what was the most expensive congressional race in the country, with $9m (€9.02m) raised and spent.

Meanwhile, Katherine Harris, former Florida secretary of state and a Republican heroine for her role in the 2000 presidential election, coasted to election for a House seat in Florida.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, and Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, a Democrat from Missouri, coasted to easy re-election.