McConnell: No Shutdowns, No Full Obamacare Repeal  —  An exclusive interview with TIME about his plans as Majority Leader  —  Sen. Mitch McConnell was giddy, not an emotion often seen in the sober 72-year-old Kentuckian.  But that's the only way to describe TIME's interview with him in Perry County, Kentucky, on Monday afternoon.

Battle for the Senate: How the GOP woke up while Democrats were feeling the drag  —  One night in early September, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called a longtime colleague, Sen. Pat Roberts, from his living room in Louisville, furious about the 78-year-old Republican's fumbling and lethargic reelection campaign.

The Polls Were Skewed Toward Democrats  —  For much of this election cycle, Democrats complained the polls were biased against them.  They said the polls were failing to represent enough minority voters and applying overly restrictive likely-voter screens.  They claimed early-voting data was proving the polls wrong.

President Obama Left Fighting for His Own Relevance  —  WASHINGTON — Two things were clear long before the votes were counted on Tuesday night: President Obama would face a Congress with more Republicans for his final two years in office, and the results would be seen as a repudiation of his leadership.

Axelrod: White House changes would be ‘wise’  —  Personnel changes at the White House would be “wise” to ensure President Obama's final two years in office are successful, former adviser David Axelrod said Tuesday.  —  Axelrod, who served at the White House during Obama's first term …

First Impressions: Historic GOP House Majority  —  It's hard to overstate House Democrats' bad night.  By all measures, Republicans enjoyed an historic night, exceeding pre-election expectations across the country.  There are fewer than ten races where the outcome is in some doubt …

Berkeley breaks through on soda tax  —  Berkeley, Calif., a city known for its progressive politics, made history Tuesday night by approving the first real sin tax on soda in the United States.  —  Voters looked likely to approve Measure D, a penny-per-ounce tax, by a wide margin …

Lessons for Obama's Final Two Years From Reagan, Clinton and Bush  —  A president in the final two years of an eight-year run in the White House.  Congress held by an opposing party that loathes the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  A staff that is depleted and exhausted by six-plus years of governing.

27 senators who voted for Obamacare won't be part of new Senate  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL CONGRESS OBAMACARE SENATE HEALTH CARE 2014 ELECTIONS  —  On Dec. 24, 2009, the Democratic-controlled Senate passed President Obama's healthcare law with a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority …

Election Results 2014: Here Are the Key Races That Are Still Too Close to Project  —  Voters in states across the nation handed Republicans control of the U.S. Senate on Election Day 2014, strengthened their majority control of the House of Representatives and also made a strong showing in gubernatorial races.

Sullivan lead holds in Alaska U.S. Senate race; Begich won't concede  —  Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan appeared to grab an insurmountable lead over incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Begich early Wednesday, with all of Alaska's precincts reporting.

The Evaporating Democratic Majority  —  “For Republicans, what counts as victory?”  I asked in my pre-election post, and now we have an answer: This counts.  Control of the Senate with room to spare, easy victories in what were supposed to be tight purple-state races and even easier victories in red states …

Meet Elise Stefanik, the Youngest Woman Ever Elected to Congress … Republican Elise Stefanik has become the youngest woman elected to Congress in history, winning her race against Aaron Woolf in New York's 21st open district 56-32, ABC News projects.  —  She's the first Republican to win the district …

A Republican Wave Sweeps the Midterm Elections  —  In an echo of 2010, the GOP overshot its targets, taking the Senate and winning House and statehouse races across the board.  Now what will they do?  —  LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Republicans took the Senate majority in a commanding sweep on Tuesday …

HICKENLOOPER POISED TO DEFEAT BEAUPREZ FOR COLORADO GOVERNOR  —  Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper was in a strong position to win re-election early Wednesday morning in a year that saw Republican gains across the state and nation.  —  Ten hours after the polls closed, Hickenlooper rebounded …

The New Segregation  —  It's class, not race.  And we know how to solve it.  —  Three years ago, Kelly Williams-Bolar, a poor, single mother, stood in a Summit County, Ohio, courtroom facing a number of felony charges, including one count of grand theft.  Her crime: stealing an education …

Scott first black senator elected in South since Reconstruction  —  Washington (CNN) — South Carolina's Tim Scott on Tuesday became the first African-American senator to win election in the South since Reconstruction.  —  The Palmetto State Republican was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley …