Stevens holding narrow lead

WASHINGTON – Despite his conviction last month on corruption charges, Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator, clung tenuously to his Alaska Senate seat on Wednesday as congressional Democrats exulted in their election gains elsewhere around the country.

While the Democrats expanded their majorities in the House and the Senate, the outcome of a number of races could remain in doubt for several more weeks.

The Georgia Senate race appeared headed for a December runoff, and the Oregon Senate race was too close to call. In Minnesota, GOP Sen. Norm Coleman eked out an apparent victory over Democrat Al Franken, but a recount is required because the margin was less than 0.5 percent.

In the political drama unfolding in Alaska, Stevens – in perhaps Tuesday’s biggest surprise – narrowly led Democrat Mark Begich.

If Stevens wins, he is likely to face an effort by his Senate colleagues to expel him. That has generated speculation that the state’s newest political star, Gov. Sarah Palin, this year’s Republican vice presidential nominee, would seek to succeed Stevens, who is 84 and has been in the Senate since 1968.

Democrats expanded their control in the 100-member Senate to at least 56 seats. They knocked off Republican Sens. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and John Sununu of New Hampshire while losing none of their own, but appeared to be falling short of the 60 seats they need to overcome Republican-led filibusters that could stymie their initiatives.

In Minnesota, Coleman led Franken, who rose to fame as a performer and writer on “Saturday Night Live,” by 477 votes out of more than 2.46 million cast. In Georgia, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss was falling just short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a Dec. 2 runoff against Democrat Jim Martin. In Oregon, Republican Sen. Gordon Smith held a slim lead over Democrat Jeff Merkley on Wednesday afternoon with more than 20 percent of the votes still to be counted.

Democrats were already contemplating changes.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is planning to challenge Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a major battleground for climate-change legislation. Dingell, an auto industry ally, and Waxman have feuded over tougher regulation of vehicle emissions.

“Some of the most important challenges we face – energy, climate change and health care – are under the jurisdiction of the commerce committee,” Waxman said Wednesday.

House Democrats – who now hold 235 of the House’s 435 seats – picked up at least 19 seats, including an Alabama district that overwhelmingly voted for President Bush four years ago.