Washington ? Republicans narrowly seized control of the Senate on Wednesday, ousting Democrats in Georgia and Missouri and giving President Bush’s legislative agenda a major boost in the next Congress.

By winning their 50th seat in Missouri, the GOP was ensured control of the chamber next year because Vice President Dick Cheney will cast tie-breaking votes.

Democrats took just one seat from Republicans when Arkansas Atty. Gen. Mark Pryor, the son of former Sen. David Pryor, defeated incumbent Sen. Tim Hutchinson.

Rep. Jim Talent of Missouri could be quickly sworn into office after defeating Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan. She was appointed to the seat after her husband, Mel Carnahan, was elected in 2000, three weeks after he was killed in a plane crash.

The triumph came on a night that began with Democrats clinging to a one-seat margin, and it meant they will have to relinquish the majority they have held since Vermont Sen. James Jeffords abandoned the GOP in June 2001.

Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu was forced into a Dec. 7 runoff in Louisiana when she failed to get the 50 percent required under state law. Her opponent will be Republican State Elections Commissioner Suzanne Terrell, who finished second in the nine-candidate race Tuesday.

In North Carolina, Republican Elizabeth Dole won the right to succeed the retiring Sen. Jesse Helms, batting down a challenge by Democrat Erskine Bowles, the one-time chief of staff to President Clinton.

Democrats held the New Jersey seat relinquished by Sen. Robert Torricelli, who abruptly ended his campaign last month after ethics violations seemed to end his chances of being re-elected. Returning in his place will be Frank Lautenberg, who retired two years ago after an 18-year Senate career.

Lamar Alexander, the former education secretary and one-time Tennessee governor, was elected to the Senate from his state, replacing GOP Sen. Fred Thompson, who retired.

House races

Republicans turned aside crucial Democratic challenges in region after region Tuesday and headed toward expanding their eight-year control of the House of Representatives.

Democratic hopes of regaining the chamber dimmed as Republicans chalked up wins or were leading in most of the races earlier seen as toss-ups. Americans voted to fill all 435 House seats, but only a tenth of them were truly competitive.

Early today with only Alaska’s polls still open, Republicans had won 205 seats and were leading in 24 others. If that trend continued, Republicans would hold 229 seats six more than they do in the current Congress. Majority control requires 218 votes.

Propositions

Among various propositions being considered, drug reform, smoking and gambling figured prominently among ballot measures considered by voters in 40 states Tuesday.

Some results:

Voters in Nevada defeated a measure to legalize possession of small amounts, and Arizonans rejected a measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana

Oregon passed a measure to provide state-financed health care for all residents.

California approved funding of before- and after-school programs, a measure pushed by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Oklahoma voted to ban cockfighting.

in California’s San Fernando Valley and Hollywood authorized secession from Los Angeles.

Missouri raised its cigarette tax from 17 cents to 72 cents per pack.

A roundup of state governor races may be found on page 4A