Democrats Head For Bigger House Majority

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democrats have unseated Republican House incumbents in Florida, Connecticut and North Carolina and captured three other GOP seats in New York and Illinois as they push toward big gains in their majority.

High school civics teacher Larry Kissell has won election in North Carolina, defeating Republican Rep. Robin Hayes.

In Illinois, Democrat Debbie Halvorson, the speaker of the state Senate, has won election to a seat held by retiring GOP Rep. Jerry Weller in the swing exurbs and rural areas south of Chicago.

In upstate New York, former congressional staffer Dan Maffei won election to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Jim Walsh, becoming the first Democrat in nearly 30 years to represent the Syracuse-based district.

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)