Maine's New Senator to Caucus With Democrats

Maine's independent senator-elect, Angus King, will caucus with Democrats, increasing the left's hold on the Senate to a 10-vote advantage, reports CNN. The former governor until now refused to say which party he'd caucus with, though both sides expected the left-leaning King to go for the Democrats. He's adamant that he'll remain independent, saying that "by associating myself with one side, I am not in opposition to the other." Still, the Democrats see this as a win for their side, since King is replacing Sen. Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican.

Maine's senior senator, Republican Susan Collins, was disappointed, but said, "I am positive he will not be an automatic vote for either caucus, and instead will look at the issues on their merits, and will attempt to reach across the aisle, no matter which side of the aisle he's sitting on." King is the second independent in the Senate; Bernie Sanders of Vermont also caucuses with Democrats. (More Angus King stories.)