Republicans stormed to victory Tuesday in US midterm elections, thumping rival Democrats to clinch control of both houses of Congress and assuring a fractious final two years of Barack Obama’s presidency

Republicans stormed to victory Tuesday in US midterm elections, thumping rival Democrats to clinch control of both houses of Congress and assuring a fractious final two years of Barack Obama's presidency.
  
Riding a wave of voter frustration with Washington incumbents and the unpopular policies of the Obama administration, Republicans seized at least seven seats from Senate Democrats to claim total congressional control for the first time since 2006.
  
The American people have put their trust in the Republican Party," Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said shortly after the Democratic implosion. Mitch McConnell, the Senate's top Republican, brushed aside the toughest challenge to his Kentucky seat in 30 years and was slated to replace Harry Reid as Senate majority leader.
  
"This experiment in big government has lasted long enough. It's time to go in a new direction," McConnell boomed to supporters in his victory speech. But he sounded a conciliatory note as well, adding that while he and the president rarely see eye to eye, "we do have an obligation to work together on issues where we can agree."
  
Reid, stung by losing his powerful leadership role, congratulated McConnell but also called for cooperation. "The message from voters is clear: they want us to work together," Reid said.
  
Republicans have held the 435-seat House of Representatives since 2010, and they kept it safely in hand Tuesday. In a bipartisan achievement, for the first time ever more than 100 women were projected to win House seats.
  
But compounding Democratic woes, projections showed the GOP could actually gain an impressive 14 to 18 House seats, giving Republicans their largest majority since 1946.
  
Republicans also cleaned up in key governors' races, earning re-election in Florida, Wisconsin and Kansas and stunning Democrats by winning governorships in blue Maryland and Massachusetts. But of the 36 governors' races, probably the most painful for Obama was Illinois, where Republican Bruce Rauner ousted Democrat Pat Quinn in the president's home state.