国际英语新闻：First results come in for U.S. mid-term elections, GOP gains

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Results began to trickle in Tuesday night as polls close in several U.S. states, and the Republicans have made a net gain in the Senate with Dan Coats capturing a Democratic seat in Indiana, according to U.S. media projections.

Polls closed at 6 p.m. eastern time in Indiana and Kentucky. Polls in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Vermont, New Hampshire and Virginia closed an hour later. U.S. TV networks declared Republican Dan Coats winner of the Senate race in Indiana, taking the seat of retiring Democrat Evan Bayh.

Tea Party favorite Rand Paul, son of former Presidential candidate Ron Paul, won over Democrat Jack Conway in Kentucky Senate race.

Other states saw incumbents win. South Carolina Republican Jim DeMint won re-election to the Senate, defeating Democrat Alvin Greene. In Vermont, veteran Democrat Patrick Leahy was re-elected to a seventh term.

Riding the wave of voter frustration with Democrats, Republicans are poised to retake the House of Representatives. They have to gain 39 seats to become majority party in the House, an outcome deemed highly possible by predictions.

In the Senate, Republicans have to gain 10 seats to become the majority. Predictions say Democrats may cling to a slim majority.