Democrats lose U.S. House, keep Senate in midterm elections

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — President Obama responded Wednesday to the midterm election results nationwide and the Democratic Party's loss of the U.S. House. The Democrats retain control of the Senate, but with a much smaller majority.

Republicans are painting Tuesday’s results as a repudiation of the Obama administration's policies, but Obama says it's more likely the slow economic recovery.

The Republican leadership says it will take on unpopular policies like health care reform, while the Democrats are talking compromise.

“We hope that they will pivot in a different direction, work with us on things like spending and debt,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“There're some areas where it's going to be very difficult for us to agree on, but think they're going to be a whole bunch where we can,” Obama said.

The current House minority leader, Ohio Rep. John Boehner, is expected to be named speaker of the House.