Independent senator will stick with Dems, denying GOP another Senate pickup

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) announced Wednesday that he would continue to work with Democrats in the Senate, even though he had hinted he might caucus with Republicans if the GOP were to win the Senate.

"I think it's in Maine's interests to have a senator in each camp," King said in Maine. "Nothing can or will happen without bipartisan support."

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) will continue to caucus with Democrats, despite a huge GOP victory in the Senate on Tuesday. (Pat Wellenbach/AP Photo)

"My independence has always been respected in the Democratic causus," King added, according to WMTW news in Maine.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is a Republican, so King's decision will let Maine have one senator working in each party. But whatever benefit King imagines will be derived from sheer diversity, it means King's power in the Senate will greatly diminish under next year's Republican-led Senate.

The GOP will have at least 52 seats in the Senate in the next Congress, and is expected to eventually win in Alaska and Louisiana. As of Wednedsay afternoon, the Virginia race was not decided, but it was expected to stay with the Democrats.

If King had decided to switch to the Republicans, it would have given the GOP 55 votes.

By late Wednesday, there were still more than a dozen House seats that had yet to be decided.