US midterm elections: State by state results

The Republicans used voter dissatisfaction with Obama to their gain

Voters at a polling station in Virginia (MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA)

The Republican Party enjoyed a sweeping victory in the US midterm elections on Tuesday, to claim the majority of the House of Representatives as their own - pushing their dominance to near-historic levels.

Reaping the rewards of widespread dissatisfaction with the President, the Republicans easily won the 218 seats required. President Obama now faces likely battles with the Republican-controlled Congress in his final two years as Republicans regained control of the Senate.

"It's time for government to start getting results and implementing solutions to the challenges facing our country, starting with our still-struggling economy," House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement.

See the gallery below for the results of the midterms

While the Democrats usually lose out in midterm elections, this year some two dozen Democratic incumbents had been in jeopardy, but just a handful of Republicans faced competitive races.

Noteably, Republicans claimed three Democratic seats in New York and upended two first-term Democrats in Illinois - Obama's adopted home state.

Overall, Republicans gained 14 seats and counting, while the Democrats took just one.

Additional reporting by AP