The majority party lost one House seat, but more than made up for that by winning three more. Democrats also lost one Senate seat, but broke even by gaining another.

Among the winners were two Democratic neophytes who captured House seats in urban Honolulu. Both Della Au Belatti, D-25th (Makiki, Tantalus) and Tom Brower, D-23rd (Waikiki, Kaka'ako), credited grassroots campaigning for their success.

Belatti, a 32-year-old attorney, said broad-based support from laborers to small-business owners helped put her over the top.

Belatti beat Tracy Okubo, a senior policy analyst for the Department of Human Services, for the right to succeed Democrat Brian Schatz, who vacated the seat for an unsuccessful congressional run.

Brower, communications director for the Democratic Party of Hawai'i, said he was able to convey that he had roots in the district.

"I lived in Waikiki as a child and have been a 25-year resident," Brower said. "I told constituents my story."

Brower, 41, bested Republican Rep. Anne Stevens, who was appointed to the post by Gov. Linda Lingle in January. Stevens, a former legislative aide, had replaced fellow Republican Galen Fox, who resigned under fire after he was convicted of groping a sleeping woman on an airplane.

Gov. Linda Lingle said she wants to meet with leaders from the House and Senate to plan strategy before putting forth any plans or initiatives for the next four years. She said quality education, affordable housing, and reducing the high cost of living will remain her priorities.

For Republican Karen Awana, who had twice before tried to unseat Democratic state Rep. Michael Kahikina, the third time was the charm.

Awana, a neighborhood board member and a City Council aide, said the key was perseverance and consistency.

"I have a hard work ethic and the (voters) have seen me working in the community," she said.

For Kahikina, who beat Awana by only 46 votes in 2004, losing the seat he held for 12 years means more time to focus on his ministry in the community, working with the Boys and Girls Club and trying to build a community center.

Kahikina said he wishes Awana the best and that "I'll just accept what God has in store for me."

Jill Tokuda, director of community relations and governmental affairs for Reynolds Recycling, is the only new Democrat elected to the state Senate — and is expected to be immediately thrown into the party's leadership fight.

Several Senate Democrats have predicted that Senate President Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), will be replaced next session, but competing factions have not agreed on a new leader.

Tokuda said she received several telephone calls from other senators last night but had made no commitments.

"So far, at least for tonight, they're holding off on the questions of leadership," said Tokuda, who beat Senate Republican researcher Keoki Leong in Senate District 24 (Kane'ohe, Kailua).

After a long night of waiting for results of what initially seemed like a tight race against retired police captain George Yamamoto, state Senator-elect Mike Gabbard, District 19 (Kapolei, Makakilo, Waikele), said one of his priorities would be election reform.

He was frustrated by reports of problems at the precincts, such as poll workers showing up late or refusing to let late voters cast ballots at Kapolei High School, or precincts running out of ballots.

"Everyone was saying it was going to be a low turnout," he said. "How do you run out of ballots?

"I want to take action and hold these individuals responsible for these screwups."

Democrats dominated both chambers before yesterday's election, outnumbering Republicans by 41 to 10 in the House, and 20 to 5 in the Senate.

The numbers have allowed Democrats to set the legislative agenda, appoint committee chairs and overturn vetoes made by Lingle, the first Republican governor since 1962.

Lawmakers overturned a dozen Lingle vetoes last year, and seven the year before.

Candidates, their parties and supporters poured money — and opposition research — into some targeted races this year, mailing out dozens of colorful brochures and pamphlets that touted accomplishments or dredged up dirt.

Speeding tickets, tax liens, family ties and a felony conviction were cited in an array of "hit-piece" mailers that ranged mostly from cheesy to sleazy, including a few that were sent anonymously.

Some voters in the 30th House District (Moanalua, Kalihi Valley) received copies of Democratic candidate John Mizuno's 2002 indictment, for example.

Also included in the plain white envelopes — with no return address — were copies of an Advertiser story explaining that Mizuno was sentenced to probation after pleading no-contest to a felony for improperly using a state computer to retrieve an address for a friend involved in a domestic dispute.

Mizuno soundly defeated Republican opponent Rick Manayan by a margin of more than two to one.

Some of the nastiest mud-slinging-by-mail took place in the Downtown and Chinatown areas, where Democrat Karl Rhoads and Republican Collin Wong slugged it out for the House District 28 seat held by Democrat Bev Harbin.

Rhoads, an attorney and former legislative aide, defeated Harbin in the primary and beat Wong last night.