Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott said that today's vote was "a tremendous statement by the American people that they want something other than 'stay the course.' And I think the President has to face that starting tomorrow morning."

McDermott said that even if the Senate remains in Republican hands, the Democratic wave will build over the next two years as House Democrats show voters their agenda.

"People may not see it right away," he said. McDermott wants House Democrats to pass their agenda, not just sit and negotiate forever with Senate Republicans. If Republicans just stop the Democratic initiatives, McDermott said, "They do it at their own peril."

"There is a real opportunity and a real necessity to put on the table our proposals. Things tightened up so much, the Senate should be looking over the shoulder at the American people."

Republicans have made much of Rep. Nancy Pelosi as a "San Francisco liberal." But McDermott thinks Pelosi will be a pragmatic speaker of House. "They talk about her as this San Francisco liberal, but I think of her as the mayor's daughter from Baltimore. She's been around politics since she was 5 years old. That's where she learned about politics."

As of now McDermott has about 78 percent of the vote. Republican Steve Beren has 17 percent and independent Linnea Noreen has about 4 percent.