McCaskill defeats Akin in Missouri

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Claire McCaskill has won re-election in Missouri, holding off Rep. Todd Akin who came under fire for saying women had ways of preventing pregnancies in the case of "legitimate rape."

McCaskill's victory denies Republicans a seat they'd hoped to pick up before Akin's comments.

Democrats have picked up two Senate seats from the Republicans -- Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts and Joe Donnelly in Indiana -- while the GOP has lost three seats, including to an independent in Maine.

As of 10:45 p.m. Eastern time, Democrats had locked up 45 seats, Republicans 42, including 67 seats not up for election. Democrats now hold a 53-seat majority, including two independents who align with them.