Republicans won control of the US Senate amid a slew of victories by allies of , giving the GOP powerful leverage in high-stakes tax and spending battles next year.

The GOP defeated Banking Chairman in Ohio, fended off an unexpectedly tough challenge to Nebraska' and picked up the open Senate seat in West Virginia, giving them at least 51 seats in the 100-member Senate. That means Republicans' will have final say in the next president's executive and judicial nominations.

Republican control of the Senate, projected by the Associated Press, likely dashes progressives' hopes of ...