Republicans sweep Louisiana runoffs, ending 2016 elections

The GOP also is holding onto the two U.S. House seats that were undecided going into the state’s runoff election.

Republican state Treasurer John Kennedy’s victory Saturday gives the GOP a 52-48 edge in the Senate starting in January.

In the runoff, he defeated Democrat Foster Campbell, a state utility regulator who was such a long shot that national Democratic organizations gave him little help.

“With 52 seats in the U.S. Senate, we are excited for Republicans to confirm a conservative Supreme Court justice and begin working with President-elect Trump to pass an agenda of change for the American people,” a statement from Republican National Committee co-chair Sharon Day said.