There is a fresh, clean breeze blowing through our country. Take a moment and fill your lungs with democracy my friends.

Democrats captured the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years and moved close to taking control of the Senate after a midterm campaign shaped by the war in Iraq and corruption scandals.

Capitalizing on President George W. Bush's declining popularity, Democrats picked up at least 27 House seats, ensuring control of the 435-seat chamber in January. They wrested four Senate seats from Republicans, two shy of the six needed for a majority, as races in Virginia and Montana remained in doubt.

The results set the stage for two years of divided government as Bush attempts to get his policy initiatives through a Democratic House. Bush will also face the possibility of investigations into his administration and a series of new initiatives from Democratic committee chairmen.