GOP Wins Big In Virginia House Races

Republicans were the big winners in the region in Tuesday's Congressional races. In 2008 Democrats picked up three House seats in Virginia, but Tuesday night the GOP was able to take two of those seats back, and Morgan Griffith surprised many analysts by upsetting 14-term Democrat Rick Boucher in the 9th District.

In January the state's House delegation will now have just three Democrats and eight Republicans. With Republicans feeling the wind at their backs, Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report warns not to read too much into these local GOP wins when you think about the 2012 presidential race.

"I think it's dangerous to extrapolate the results of one election, especially a midterm, into the next presidential election. Democrats almost have a coalition that's built for winning these big presidential elections. Republicans are enjoying a coalition right now that favors their chances in midterm elections," Wasserman says.

Democrats fared better in Maryland races, but they did lose the contest for the Eastern Shore's 1st District. Incumbent Democrat Frank Kratovil lost that seat to Republican Andy Harris. All other Maryland Congressional incumbents won their contests.