Republicans scored a string of early victories in several seats that political pundits consider key bellwether indicators, indicating it could be a big night for Republicans.
In Florida District 24, GOP state representative Sandy Adams was declared the winner over incumbent Democratic Rep. Susan Kosmas. The race was one of political guru Charlie Cook's bellwether picks.
Bellwether races are considered key indicators of how the electorate may break on Election Day.
In Indiana's 8th Congressional District, known as the "bloody 8th" due to its tradition of very hard-fought political contests, GOP challenger Larry Bucshon was projected the winner over Democratic state Rep. Trent Van Haaften.
Because that seat had been occupied by Democratic Brad Ellsworth, who resigned his post to run for the U.S. Senate, that race represents a GOP pick up in the House.
National Republicans had considered Indiana CD8 a prime target in their bid to retake control of the House.
Bucshon, a heart surgeon, is a first-time candidate. He defeated a tea party favorite in the GOP primary.
Another big Republican win came in Indiana's CD 9, where GOP newcomer Todd Young was declared the winner over incumbent Democrat Baron Hill.
The Hill associate editor A.B. Stoddard had selected the Hill-Young contest as a bellwether, telling Newsmax that Hill's defeat would signal that "the power of incumbency is alive for Democrats in the bluest, most urban pockets of America."
In Virginia's 5th Congressional District, Republican Robert Hurt was declared the winner over incumbent Democrat Tom Perriello, 52 to 46 percent, in a race that suggests the Old Dominion may be moving back toward the red-state camp.
Perriello's seat was one of the targeted objectives of national Republicans. The voters' verdict in that race represents a rejection of President Barack Obama's coattails. In an indication of the race's national importance, Obama campaigned for Perriello last week.
Overall, Fox News showed Republicans with a net gain of five seats in the House as of 8:45 p.m.
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