Stevens loses Senate race in Alaska

Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, convicted last month on federal ethics charges, on Tuesday appeared to have lost his bid for a seventh term as final ballots were counted, giving Democrats at least 58 seats in the Senate for the first years of the Obama administration.

With an estimated 2,500 votes outstanding late Tuesday and other election-certification steps still to take place, Democrat Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, had taken a 3,724-vote lead out of more than 315,000 cast, and he declared victory.

"I am humbled and honored to serve Alaska in the United States Senate," Begich said. "It's been an incredible journey getting to this point, and I appreciate the support and commitment of the thousands of Alaskans who have brought us to this day."