STEVE INSKEEP, host: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: And I'm Renee Montagne. Good morning.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: It was a rainy night in Washington, D.C., which is fitting, since a storm of change is coming to the Capitol. Yesterday ranks as the biggest election night for the Democratic Party in years.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Democrats seized control of the House of Representatives for the first time since 1994. And for the first time ever, the departing Speaker of the House will turn over his gavel to a woman, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.</s>Representative NANCY PELOSI (Democrat, California): Today, the American people voted for change, and they voted for Democrats to take our country in a new direction.</s>Representative NANCY PELOSI (Democrat, California): And that is exactly what we intend to do.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Democrat Nancy Pelosi. Democrats also gained seats in the U.S. Senate, but Republicans are very close to keeping control. The Senate now hangs on extremely close races in Montana and Virginia.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: In both cases, Republican incumbents are in danger of losing their jobs.
Democrats seized control of the House of Representatives for the first time since 1994 with elections gains on Tuesday. And for the first time ever, the departing Speaker of the House will turn over his gavel to a woman: Democrat Nancy Pelosi of California. Control of the Senate hangs on extremely close races in Montana and Virginia.