An election day opinion poll by Voter News Service reported that Vermonters were evenly divided, and the election results were mixed. Dean won reelection and the Democrats held their majority in the state Senate, which would block any attempt to repeal of the civil unions legislation, though their margin of control was just 16 to 14. In the primary and the general election combined, 16 incumbent supporters of civil unions were not returned to the Assembly. Republicans took control of the House for the first time in 14 years. Bishop Angell viewed it as a defeat: