Good news, new challenges

Fiscal issues were paramount in this year's election, but it's worth noting that the next Congress will be stronger in pro-life numbers and leadership. The Susan B. Anthony List targeted purportedly pro-life Democrats who voted for the Obama healthcare bill with its potential funding of abortion-and helped to knock off 14 of the inconsistent. Americans United for Life Action was 11 for 12 in the congressional races on which it focused.

National Right to Life, CitizenLink (Focus on the Family's political wing), and the Family Research Council also spent money and claimed success. They sent a message to congressmen and senators up for reelection next time: Don't tread on unborn babies! And when healthcare debates arise during the next two years, the House will have more pro-life doctors: Dan Benishek of Michigan, Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, and Larry Bucshon of Indiana were among those elected.

Along these lines, it's also worth nothing that Republicans need to do a lot better among youthful voters, and a strong pro-life stand should not at all hurt in that regard: People under 30 tend to be more pro-life than those over 30. To win elections down the road, conservatives and Christians need breakthroughs among young voters. Barack Obama two years ago caused a surge in voting among 18-to-29-year-olds: They made up 18 percent of the electorate in 2008 but only 11 percent in 2010. Lasting victories depend upon voters coming out, not staying home: The youth vote-probably sadder, maybe wiser-will be back for the next presidential election.

Conservatives continue to have mediocre support from Hispanics and even less from African-Americans, even though both groups tend to be more pro-life than white voters overall. The Senate victory of Florida's Marco Rubio and the House victory of South Carolina's Tim Scott are important in that regard: Scott is the first African-American Republican elected from the Deep South in over a century, and he had support both from pro-lifers and Tea Party folks.

See WORLD's interactive national map for complete election results from across the country.