Democrats succeeded in taking back the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday but the blue wave never happened in the Senate, as Republican challengers instead washed out four incumbent Democrats and helped to tighten the GOP's grip on power.

"This was quite a cycle for high-quality conservative candidates and we're just very pleased with how it all ended up," said Senate Conservatives Fund President Ken Cuccinelli, a former Virginia attorney general. 

Republicans scored a pick-up in Indiana, where businessman Mike Braun defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly.  In North Dakota GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer soundly beat Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.  Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley scored a convincing victory over Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott upended three-term Sen. Bill Nelson, although that race appears headed for a recount.  

Republicans also staved off challenges in Tennessee and Texas.  Rep. Marsha Blackburn kept the Tennessee seat for the GOP with a resounding win over former Gov. Phil Bredesen and Sen. Ted Cruz fended off a fierce campaign from Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke.

Republicans lost a seat in Nevada, where Rep. Jacky Rosen defeated Sen. Dean Heller and Republican Matt Rosendale fell just short against Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.  In West Virginia, Republican Patrick Morrisey lost to Sen. Joe Manchin.  Republican Rep. Martha McSally leads the Arizona Senate race against Rep. Kyrsten Sinema.

Listen to the full podcast as Cuccinelli explains how the Senate brawl over the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was "an epic turning point" in the battle for the Senate, why he thinks the Republicans really lost control of the House, and whether he thinks Virginia is now a blue state.