Kilroy win gives Dems 79-seat House majority

Ohio Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy has won the last outstanding House race, handing her party a 79-seat majority and putting its gains for November’s general election at 21 seats.
 
House Democrats’ majority now stands at 257-178.
 
{mosads}Kilroy was declared the winner over Republican state Sen. Steve Stivers after the counting of outstanding provisional ballots put her up more than 2,000 votes. Stivers has conceded.
 
Kilroy, a Franklin County commissioner, will replace retiring Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio). Kilroy fell just short of unseating Pryce in 2006.
 
“In Washington, I will work together with Democrats, Republicans, and President-elect Obama to tackle the real problems that our community faces,” Kilroy said in a statement. “Over the next few days I will be in contact with Rep. Deborah Pryce to begin a smooth transition so that no constituent services are delayed during these tough economic times.”
 
Stivers said in a statement: “While I am extremely proud of the race I ran, ultimately, [it] was not enough. I have called Commissioner Kilroy to congratulate her for her hard-fought victory, and I wish her well in Washington.”
 
Republicans stole a seat from Democrats on Saturday in the delayed congressional races in Louisiana, when GOPer Joseph Cao shocked indicted Rep. William Jefferson (D) in a low-turnout affair.
 
In the other Pelican State race delayed by Hurricane Gustav, Republican John Fleming holds a 356-vote lead with all precincts reporting and appears to have defeated Democrat Paul Carmouche, but there might be a recount.