Republicans have captured the Arkansas Senate race, which they have seen as key to their efforts to be in the majority in the new Congress.

Rep. Tom Cotton defeated two-term Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor after a heated and expensive race.

Republicans have made major gains in Arkansas over the past two elections, primarily by trying to link Democrats to President Barack Obama, who lost the state in 2008 and 2012.

Earlier, Republicans won an additional Senate seat in West Virginia. They now have gained two seats, and need four more in order to control the new Senate.

Republican Asa Hutchinson won the open governor’s race in Arkansas over Democrat and fellow former congressman Mike Ross. It’s a race that national GOP figures had targeted.

(AP)