# Congratulations to Heidi Heitkamp!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-to-heidi-heitkamp/640297>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [November 7, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-to-heidi-heitkamp/640297 "2012-11-07T23:41:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-to-heidi-heitkamp/640297/1 "2012-11-07T23:41:38Z")

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Looks like this race has finally been called!

[Heitkamp wins reelection, Berg concedes](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/heidi-heitkamp-election-results-2012_n_2049748.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012)

Congratulations to Heidi Heitkamp on an excellent run campaign. She held onto a seat that would almost assuredly have gone to the republicans had any other democrat run. Nobody expected her to win in the beginning, and as far as I know, Berg was not some crazy tea party guy.

So, congratulations!

Now, with that race settled, it looks like Democrats have 53 official seats, with definitely 1 friendly Independent. Has King made any announcements who he will caucus with? Did your prediction for senate-makeup come true? I was close but if it’s effectively 55D I underestimated it (thought it would be effectively 53D with the I’s).

Also, how many total women are in the senate now? I assume it’s the most it’s ever been in history.

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**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-to-heidi-heitkamp/640297/2 "2012-11-08T02:05:01Z")

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Indeed, a very nice surprise.

My understanding about King is he is being cagey about who he will caucus with for now. I know his big priority is reforming the filibuster rule. I think he will try to work a deal on that before making promises about which caucus he joins.

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**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-to-heidi-heitkamp/640297/3 "2012-11-08T02:33:21Z")

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I believe it is 20 women, which is the most ever.

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**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-to-heidi-heitkamp/640297/4 "2012-11-08T02:45:56Z")

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> [@Jas09](#):
>
> I believe it is 20 women, which is the most ever.

Wow!!! That’s way more than I thought. Way to go ladies! That is just so inspiring.