¡°Even in the bluest of blue states, Scott Brown¡¯s message resonated with families, seniors, and small business owners who have rejected President Obama¡¯s massive health care takeover and the Democrats¡¯ out-of-control spending agenda in Washington," he said.

A Republican candidate has not won a Senate seat in the Bay State since 1972. Kennedy, who died of brain cancer last year, had held the seat for 47 years. Coakley had started off the campaign with a double-digit lead, according to polls, but the race tightened in recent weeks.    

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada released a statement welcoming Brown to the Senate. He said the Senate would seat Brown "as soon as the proper paperwork has been received."  

"While Senator-elect Brown¡¯s victory changes the political math in the Senate, we remain committed to strengthening our economy, creating good paying jobs and ensuring all Americans can access affordable health care," Reid said. "We hope that Scott Brown will join us in these efforts. There is much work to do to address the problems Democrats inherited last year, and we plan to move full speed ahead."

Republicans argued that the win forecast serious problems for Democrats in the fall congressional elections. 

"Scott Brown¡¯s win confirms the serious ramifications that will haunt Democrats all the way to the November elections," National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, said in a statement. "No matter how Democrats want to spin it, there is a movement building in America that threatens their majority in Congress."