Formerly a Democratic stronghold, the southern states have been tending Republican in recent elections, and Tuesday continued that pattern.

Even the presence of southerners Bill Clinton and Al Gore on the Democratic ticket did not prevent the Republicans from capturing Democratic Senate seats in Alabama and the President's home state of Arkansas.

The new Arkansas Senator, Republican Rep. Tim Hutchinson, was succeeded in the House by his younger brother, Asa. Meanwhile, two hard-pressed Republican incumbents, Strom Thurmond of South Carolina and Jesse Helms of North Carolina, won their races. Senators Fred Thompson (R-TN) and John Warner (R-VA) also cruised to re-election.

Only in Georgia, with Max Cleland, and in Louisiana, with Mary Landrieu, were the Democrats able to keep their southern Senate seats.

On the House side, Speaker Newt Gingrich prevailed against a well-financed challenge from millionaire cookie magnate Michael Coles in Georgia.

Also of particular interest in Georgia are races including black Democratic lawmakers Sanford Bishop and Cynthia McKinney. Both won re-election in districts where a majority of residents are white, after the Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that their former districts, drawn to create three black majority districts, were unconstitutional.