By Eric Bradner, CNN
Democrats have now picked off one of the five seats they need to wrest control of the Senate away from Republicans, and the parties are anxiously watching returns from six of the other eight states that will decide the chamber’s balance of power.
Democrat Tammy Duckworth will defeat Republican Sen. Mark Kirk in Illinois, according to a CNN projection.
It’s one of the five seats the party will need to flip the GOP’s 54-46 majority.
Republicans, meanwhile, held onto seats in two presidential swing states: Florida and Ohio.
In Florida, Sen. Marco Rubio — whose late decision to seek re-election after his failed presidential bid was a boon to the GOP’s chances of keeping the Senate — will best Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy, CNN projects. Republican Sen. Rob Portman will also win re-election in Ohio, CNN projects. He ran what’s likely the best Republican campaign of the cycle — turning what was expected to be a close race with Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland into a likely blowout.
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