WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Preliminary results so far of Senate races held Tuesday in the United States showed a tie between Republicans and Democrats, with each side winning five states.

    Republicans defeated Democrats in Georgia, Ohio, Missouri, New Hampshire and Alabama, while Democrats registered victory over Republicans in Vermont, Indiana, Connecticut, Illinois and Maryland.

    In the Senate races, 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate are at stake, 19 held by Republicans and 15 by Democrats. Currently, Republicans enjoy a majority with 51 seats, with 48 of the rest going to Democrats and one to independents.

    In the races, most of the incumbents are expected to be reelected. Contests are considered competitive in five pro-Republican states of South Dakota, North Carolina, South Carolina,Louisiana and Florida, where retirements by Democrats gave chancesto Republicans to regain control. In the other battleground statesof Alaska, Colorado, Kentucky and Oklahoma, the situation is believed to be in favor of Democrats.

    In Illinois, Democrat Barack Obama pocketed the Senate seat held by a retiring Republican. He will be the only black member ofthe Senate.

    Democrats were having an uphill fight for taking over the Senate. Enditem