Clive Crook's blog

By Emiliya Mychasuk, FT.com’s US news editor, and Alan Rappeport, FT reporter, in New York. All times are eastern standard.

11.56pm – The Democrats look like they are going to keep control of the Senate.

But in the meantime, the state regarded as a Presidential bellwether, Ohio has elected Republican John Kasich over Democratic incumbent governor Ted Strickland. In a state that has been hit hard by the recession and will be a major battleground in the 2012 presidential election, Mr Kasich was accused in debates over free trade of backing policies that would send US jobs overseas.

11:45pm –  US news editor Gary Silverman was wondering earlier when the likely new speaker John Boehner would make his victory lap.  The 60-year-old Mr Boehner, a 10-term Republican congressman from western Ohio, began his speech by saying that there was “frankly not a time for celebration, this is a time to roll up our sleeves” and described the elections as a “repudiation of Washington, and politicians who refused to listen to the American people.” The speaker-in-waiting said the “President sets the agenda” but the people had sent a message to the President: “Change course.”