While U.S. Senator Michael Bennet prepares to head back to Washington and roll up his sleeves, his first priority here at home is clear. He made a campaign promise that he'd buy his three young daughters a puppy after the election, and now he has to keep it (via 9News). And even though puppies can be a lot of work, they've got to be easier than Tuesday's long election night and grinding Wednesday morning--those hours leading up to an announcement that Bennet had indeed narrowly edged out Republican Ken Buck after an intense battle for U.S. Senate.

Bennet declared victory in a speech at noon yesterday just outside the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where President Barack Obama signed the stimulus bill into law last year (via 7News). Bennet asked voters to "set aside our petty differences and make sure this state and this country lead in the 21st century." He also congratulated Buck, who tells The Greeley Tribune the race was "the experience of a lifetime....I'm going to use the contacts and the experience I've had running for office and try to enhance the DA's office and bring as much value to Weld County as I can as a result of having had this experience."

In the end, Bennet's victory with the otherwise nationally battered Democrats was a "crucial firewall during midterm elections in which Republicans made a historic surge," writes The Associated Press.