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Norfolk, Va., has spent decades — and millions of dollars — raising houses and building barriers to successfully hold back the sea. Expanding such efforts to other vulnerable coastal areas, such as New York and New Jersey, could work, but costs could reach the billions.

After voting for Barack Obama in 2008, the state went for Mitt Romney Tuesday night. It also elected Republican Mike Pence as governor. There was an exception to the red tide that swept across the Hoosier state. Democrats picked up a Senate seat once held by outgoing Republican Richard Lugar.

Ohio was supposed to be the pivotal battleground state for both presidential candidates until it wasn't. The vote in Ohio was squeaky close. But still many would argue it didn't decide the election.

Wisconsin voters chose the Obama ticket over their own native son Paul Ryan. And the state is sending the first openly gay senator to Washington: Tammy Baldwin defeated former Governor Tommy Thompson for the seat of retiring Senator Herb Kohl.

Mitt Romney fell short of his goal to become president. On his plane Tuesday night, Romney told reporters that he had only written one speech — a victory address. But he did not deliver that speech.

The U.S. Senate is also expected to break a record: At least 19 female senators will serve this term — the most in history.

More than an hour before taking the stage to formally announce his re-election, @Barack Obama tweeted his victory. He wrote, "This happened because of you." Obama was one of millions of people who tweeted on Election Day. Traffic on the social networking site peaked at 11:19 p.m. Tuesday when the TV networks called the race.

Why didn't the Republicans win the White House Tuesday night? For insight, Steve Inskeep talks to Michael Gerson, a Washington Post colmnist and a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush.

Renee Montagne speaks with Republican strategist Ed Rogers and Democratic political analyst Dee Dee Myers about Tuesday's wins and losses, and about challenges facing the Republican Party.

Renee Montagne and Steve Inskeep talk about the election with liberal columnist Jonathan Chait of New York Magazine and conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online. Chait has said Republicans lost not just an election but a four-year gamble.