Updated 4.05 pm Pacific
Virginia Republican Senator George Allen has conceded, giving Democrats the sixth state that they needed to take control of the Senate, according to projections. Democrats now also control the House.

Although Allen could have asked for a recount, two-thirds of the votes were cast on electronic voting machines with no paper trail. Thus, a recount would be unlikely to show a significant change in the tally.

There are nine new Democratic Senators -- six defeated incumbent Republicans. It is almost unheard of for an incumbent to lose an election in US politics. Democrats now have 240 House seats and 50 Senate seats. Former Democratic VP candidate, "Independent" Sen. Joe Lieberman (CT) and Independent Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT) give Democrats a 51 seat majority in the Senate.

Earlier, Republian Sen. Conrad Burns conceded to Democrat Jon Tester in the red state of Montana.

The six new Democratic Senators who defeated incumbents are Brown (OH), Casey (PA), McCaskill (MO), Tester (MT), Webb (VA) and Whitehouse (RI) .

The three open seats: Cardin (MD) [Democrat Sarbanes did not seek re-election], Klobuchar (MN) [Democrat Dayton did not seek re-election] and Sanders (VT) [Independent Jeffords did not seek re-election.]

Republicans retained the open seat in Tennessee, where Republican Bob Corker defeated Democrat Harold Ford. That campaign was marked by a controversial ad suggesting Ford, who is black, was consorting with a white Playboy bunny. Majority Leader Frist resigned, ostensibly for a 2008 bid for the Presidency.

Analysts are comparing this victory to the Republican's 1994 sweep which put Newt Gingrigh (R-GA) into power.

• Competitive Senate Seats
• Competitive House Seats

First published at 16.34 Eastern.