n the midst of a landslide vote in Massachusetts for Democratic presidential contender Al Gore, Republicans appeared to be holding on to six of seven seats in the state Senate.
On Cape Cod, incumbent Edward B. Teague of Yarmouth was headed toward a loss in his bid to return to the Legislature, based on early results last night. Teague, who lost a congressional bid to US Representative William Delahunt in 1996, faced Barnstable County Commissioner Robert O'Leary, a Democrat.
But in a state where the GOP's ranks tend to be small in the Legislature, just holding on to six seats was deemed to be a victory.
''This was not a huge victory, but a victory for Republicans and Massachusetts,'' said Brian Lees, state minority leader.
The race between Republican Senator Robert L. Hedlund and Democratic challenger James Cantwell has been the liveliest of the state races and could have proven to be a costly one for the Republicans.
But Hedlund, who lost a race for mayor in 1999, pulled ahead of his Democratic challenger.
Hedlund is one of seven Republicans in the 40-member Senate. A loss by him or any of the Republicans would have been considered a major blow to the Cellucci administration, which has struggled to build up its party ranks in the past few years.
''It's basically tough for any Republican in the state,'' said Hedlund.
While Hedlund has served in the Senate for 10 years, Cantwell, a former Marshfield selectman and 34-year-old lawyer, has been involved in politics since his days at Boston College.
Both candidates accused each other of ineffective leadership and of flip-flopping on a number of issues.
Cantwell said last night that he was disappointed with the results but vowed to continue to fight for social issues.
''We will still work to keep these issues in the forefront of South Shore. We will continue to fight for education, health care reform for Massachusetts,'' said Cantwell.
Democrats had said that any Republican defeat in the Senate would prove that the party has failed to grow in Massachusetts.
''It would certainly say a lot about the Republican Party in Massachusetts. The Republican Party is a very small party which seems to have difficulty attracting candidates who voters want to support,'' said Senate President Thomas F. Birmingham.
Several other races in the Senate were expected to be important to the GOP ranks. In Worcester, Democratic state Representative Harriette L. Chandler and former Worcester County assistant district attorney Christopher P. LoConto were fighting for a seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Robert A. Bernstein.
Teague entered the race in September after state Senator Henri S. Rauschenbach (R-Brewster) unexpectedly left the Senate to take a job in the Cellucci administration. The candidates had just weeks to campaign after Rauschenbach's resignation. The Republican contender especially had a rocky start when he announced he would pay a $5,000 fine for late filing of 1998 and 1999 finance reports. The district covers precincts in Falmouth, towns from Mashpee to Provincetown, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
