NEW YORK TIMES:  In one of the nation’s straggler election contests, Senator Patty Murray of Washington won the Senate race in Washington state, narrowly defeating Dino Rossi, who conceded Thursday afternoon.

Ms. Murray’s victory brings the total number of Democratic seats in the Senate to 53, and reinforces a trend in which Democrats on either of the country’s coasts were able to fight off strong Republican challengers while Democrats in the South and Midwest were defeated…  (more)