Ted Stevens concedes to Mark Begich in Senate race

ANCHORAGE — Sen. Ted Stevens conceded the election for U.S. Senate to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich on Wednesday, bringing to an end his 40 years as the dominant force in Alaska politics and the longest-serving Republican in Senate history.

Stevens' office issued a written statement congratulating Begich, a Democrat who ran as a change candidate in the face of federal ethics charges against the man many Alaskans call "Uncle Ted."

"Given the number of ballots that remain to be counted, it is apparent the election has been decided and Mayor Begich has been elected. My family and I wish to thank the thousands of Alaskans who stood by us and who supported my re-election," said Stevens, 85.

A week before the election, a jury convicted Stevens of seven felonies for lying on his financial-disclosure forms about more than $250,000 in gifts, including renovations of his Girdwood, Alaska, home.

Begich, 46, claimed victory Tuesday after the latest count of absentee and questioned ballots widened his lead to 3,724 votes. With about 2,500 ballots remaining to be counted, the lead was insurmountable barring a major flaw in the counting. Stevens made no mention of a recount.

Waxman challenges veteran for chair

WASHINGTON — Rep. Henry Waxman of California won backing from a House Democratic leadership panel Wednesday to replace veteran Rep. John Dingell as chairman of the committee with oversight of energy and global warming.

Waxman won a 25-22 vote in the Democratic Steering and Policy panel, which is packed with allies of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a rival of Dingell.

But Waxman and Dingell, of Michigan, will square off today, when rank-and-file Democrats vote. Dingell's allies think he'll do better among the broader Democratic caucus.

Dingell, 82, has been committee's top Democrat for 28 years and is an ally of automakers and electric utilities. Waxman, 69, is chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Missouri tally finally in; McCain wins

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Republican John McCain defeated Barack Obama in Missouri, the last state to be decided in the 2008 presidential election.

McCain's narrow victory over Obama breaks a bellwether streak in which Missourians had picked the winning presidential candidate in every election since 1956. In complete but unofficial results, McCain led Obama by 3,632 votes out of more than 2.9 million cast.

Obama won 365 electoral votes. Missouri's 11 electoral votes will give McCain 173.

Also

Recount: City and county workers across Minnesota began a recount Wednesday of more than 2.9 million ballots in the U.S. Senate contest between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. They have until Dec. 5 to complete the recount. The recount is required under state law because the votes cast for Coleman and Franken differed by less than one-half of 1 percent. Coleman had a 215-vote lead heading into the recount.

GOP vote: House Republicans picked their leadership team Wednesday, keeping Rep. John Boehner of Ohio at their helm, favoring him over Rep. Dan Lungren of California, who mounted a last-minute challenge. Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia will be the No. 2 Republican and Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana will take over at No. 3. Cantor and Pence were not opposed.

Seattle Times news services